One winner and plenty of Twin Harbors plaers at Mat Classic XXXV

Willapa Valley’s Portmann wins state title; Elma’s Espinoza, Montesano’s Roundtree each place second

By Ryan Sparks • February 19, 2024 5:00 am
PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Elma’s Xavier Espinoza, top, grapples with Castle Rock’s Skylar Ammons during the 1A 106-pound championship match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.
PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Elma’s Xavier Espinoza, top, grapples with Castle Rock’s Skylar Ammons during the 1A 106-pound championship match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Led by a victory from Willapa Valley’s Tyson Portmann, several Twin Harbors prep wrestlers brought home medals from the Mat Classic XXXV state-championship tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Portmann swept through his four matches in the 1B/2B 165-pound weight class, advancing the the semifinals after two pinfall wins.

In the semis, Portmann edged Liberty (Spangle) wrestler Clae Holling 8-7 to advance to the state championship.

In the final, Portmann gained control over Kittitas’ Simon Jones and won the state title with a pin at 1:13 of the first round.

Two additional Twin Harbors wrestlers reached their state-championship matches on Saturday.

Elma’s Xavier Espinoza won his first two matches in the 1A 106-pound competition via fall and defeated Zillah’s Leonel Lustre 11-5 in the semifinals.

In the final, Espinoza was defeated by Castle Rock’s Skylar Ammons via 12-2 major decision to place second in the state.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano’s Kya Roundtree, top, controls Grandview’s Ihanna Perez in a 1B/2B/1A/2A 170-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano’s Kya Roundtree, top, controls Grandview’s Ihanna Perez in a 1B/2B/1A/2A 170-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

In the girls 1B/2B/1A/2A 170-pound weight class, Montesano’s Kya Roundtree advanced to the final after a quarterfinal pinfall win over Reardan’s Danika Bretz and a 3-2 semifinal victory over Grandview’s Ihanna Perez.

But Roundtree ran into trouble in the state-title match, losing a 6-1 decision to Royal’s Emma Villa to earn a state second-place medal.

Aberdeen had two third-place finishers, one each for the boys and girls teams.

Talatheon Warness bounced back from a semifinal loss to defeat Selah’s D’Anthony Garcia Reyes via a 4-2 sudden victory to place third in the 2A boys’ 106-pound weight class.

The Bobcats’ Felicia Bell responded from a quarterfinal loss to win four-straight matches, pinning Okanogan’s Liberty Linklater at 3:53 to place third in the 1B/2B/1A/2A 125-pound weight class.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Aberdeen’s Aidan Watkins, top, grabs hold of Pullman’s Aydin Peltier in a 2A 157-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Aberdeen’s Aidan Watkins, top, grabs hold of Pullman’s Aydin Peltier in a 2A 157-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Also placing in the top six in their respective competitions were Aberdeen’s Aidan Watkins (2A 157 pounds, 5th); Elma’s Aidyn Johnson (1A 113, 4th) and Blaize Salazar (1A 138, 4th); Montesano’s Gabe Pyhala (1A 175, 6th) and Logan Roberts (1A 285, 5th); North Beach’s Adin Wollum (1B/2B 215, 6th); Ocosta’s Ronin Rutzer (1B/2B 138, 6th) and Andrew Martin (1B/2B 144, 5th); Raymond’s Nina Siribun (1B/2B/1A/2A girls 235, 5th); and Willapa Valley’s Cody Strozyk (1B/2B 190, 6th).

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG North Beach’s Adin Wollum, left, wrestles against Alimira Coulee Hartline’s Noah Butler in a 1B/2B 215-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG North Beach’s Adin Wollum, left, wrestles against Alimira Coulee Hartline’s Noah Butler in a 1B/2B 215-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

As far as the team standings are concerned, Elma’s boys team placed in the top 10 with 64 points to take eighth in the 1A team standings.

Willapa Valley was the top local placer in the boys 1B/2B standings, taking 16th overall with 41 points.

Aberdeen’s boys squad placed in a tie with Tumwater for 19th in the 2A team race with 31 points.

The Bobcats’ girls team placed in a dead heat with Newport for 23rd overall in the 1B/2B/1A/2A competition with 24 points.

Full results available at trackwrestling.com.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano’s Logan Roberts, right, wrestles with Toppenish’s Anthony Nava in a 1A 285-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano’s Logan Roberts, right, wrestles with Toppenish’s Anthony Nava in a 1A 285-pound semifinal match at the Mat Classic XXXV on Saturday at the Tacoma Dome.

Local results

Boys (weight class, placement, name, meet record)

Aberdeen – 106 pounds: 3, Talatheon Warness (4-1). 132: Michael Leontyev (0-2). 150: Mikey Hatton (0-2). 157: 5, Aidan Watkins (3-2). 165: Erick Silveira (1-2).

Elma – 106: 2, Xavier Espinoza (3-1). 106: Colin Chandler (1-2). 113: 4, Aidyn J0hnson (3-2). 126: Kale Reeves (2-2). 132: Ben Totten (1-2). 138: 4, Blaize Salazar (3-2). 144: Taye Lessard (1-2).

Hoquiam – 120: Junior Soto (0-2). 138: Kingston Case (1-2).

Montesano – 113: Adam Schmitz (0-2). 144: Kole Kjesbu (0-2). 157: Gage Stutesman (1-2). 175: 6, Gabe Pyhala (2-2). 215: Felix Romero (0-2). 285: 5, Logan Roberts (2-2).

North Beach – 126: Wyeland Lomedico (2-2). 215: 6, Adin Wollum (1-3).

Ocosta – 138: Aiden Davis (1-2). 138: 6, Ronin Rutzer (2-3). 144: Kale Donovick (0-2). 144: 5, Andrew Martin (3-2).

Pe Ell: 157: Konnor Pilz (0-2). 190: Hunter Harris (0-2).

Willapa Valley: 138: Kasen Clements (0-2). 157: Lucas Swogger (1-2). 165: 1, Tyson Portmann (4-0). 190: 6, Cody Strozyk (2-3).

Girls (weight class, placement, name, meet record)

Aberdeen – 125: 3, Felicia Bell (4-1). 140: Peityn Munoz (1-2). 145: Selena Martinez (0-2). 170: Mycah Good (0-2).

Hoquiam – 145: Meribel Mazariegos (1-2).

Montesano – 170: 2, Kya Roundtree (3-1).

Raymond – 235: 5, Nina Siribun (3-2). 235: Rayanna Rose (0-2).