Grays Harbor College wrapped up a history-making trip with a 13th place finish at the Las Vegas Shootout on Monday and Tuesday at the Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nevada.

Playing in its first tournament outside the Pacific Northwest, the Chokers had to deal with 25-35 mph winds and 50-degree weather after playing a practice round earlier in what head coach Ann Swanson said was “basically perfect conditions.”

Further complicating matters was GHC was the only team in the 15 team field with just four golfers, meaning the Chokers did not have the luxury of fielding a fifth golfer and having the lowest score on the team thrown out of the team total (top four scores are calculated).

Playing 36 holes on Monday and 18 on Tuesday, the Chokers were led by Ryan Feyrer, who shot and 80 for his first round, 78 in Round 2 and 82 in the third round to place tied for 19th overall with a score of 240.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Grays Harbor College’s Ryan Feyrer birdies to open the third round of play at the Las Vegas Shootout in Boulder Creek, Nevada on Tuesday. Feyrer placed 19th overall.

Michael Jump (88-54-54 256), Nolan King (82-86-89 257) and Trey Moss (90-90-83 263) finished 55th, 59th and 68th for the Chokers, respectively.

“The guys did well and I’m proud of how they battled, especially with only four players,” Swanson said.

GHC finished with team scores of 340 in Round 1 and identical scores of 338 in each of the final two rounds for a total score of 1,016 to place 13th, two shots behind Fort Scott Community College (Kansas) and four strokes better than Vanguard University (California).

Swanson said the opportunity to play on “a very strategic golf course” so far from home was beneficial to Chokers golf.

“Great experience and opportunity for the GHC Golf program,” she said. “It is about giving GHC golfers the best possible collegiate golf experience and building memories to last a lifetime.”

Ahead of the trip, Swanson said playing in a large tournament outside of the Pacific Northwest has been on her radar for quite some time.

“This is the first time a GHC Golf Team has traveled to a big event outside the northwest,” Sawnson said on Feb. 8. “This is something I have wanted to do for our golf program since I started coaching at Grays Harbor. … We are grateful to all our donors and supporters who have made this trip possible.”

For full match results, visit tinyurl.com/yfku7vcs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAYS HARBOR COLLEGE Grays Harbor College’s Dallas Gomez, left, works for a pinfall during the Women’s Community College National Championships this past weekend in Roseburg, Oregon.

WOMEN’S COLLEGE WRESTLING

Chokers take third at JC National Championships

The Grays Harbor Women’s Wrestling team turned in a strong showing Saturday and Sunday at the Women’s Community College National Championships hosted by Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

The Chokers took third place in the team standings and six wrestlers achieved All-American honors with top four finishes. Dallas Gomez (123 pounds) won the individual title for Grays Harbor, while Tatum Pine (130), Grace Miller (136) and Renaeh Ureste (191) finished second.

Other GHC wrestlers placing in the top four were Marissa Riojas (130. 3rd) and Jocelyn Fierro (143, 4th). Also placing were were Andrea Jones (143, 5th) and Maryum Ajaz (109, 6th).

Indian Hills of Ottumwa, Iowa, had four individual champions and repeated as team champion with 164.5 points. Umpqua compiled 138 points, followed by Grays Harbor (103), Iowa Western (99.5), Big Bend (91) and Southwestern Oregon (71.5).

“It was a very solid performance by the team,” said Grays Harbor head coach Kevin Pine. “We entered nine wrestlers, put four in the finals and had six that earned All-American honors. That is a good day.”

Dallas Gomez was the highlight for the Chokers. Entering the event as the No. 4 seed, Gomez won by fall in her opening bout. Gomez flustered her opponent by countering any of her offensive attempts and was able to scramble and stay in good position. Gomez then set up her head and arm and tossed her opponent to her back and recorded the pin in the first round.

In the semifinals, Gomez matched up against No. 1 seed Angie Torres of Indian Hills. Gomez was able to score off a snap down for two points. Gomez was able to transition to a leg lace for three consecutive turns. Just as the referee was to call both to their feet, Gomez made a quick adjustment and turned Torres once more for the 10-0 technical fall victory.

Gomez then faced the No. 2 seed Kaci Bice of Southwestern Oregon CC in the championship match.

Bice, who defeated Gomez earlier in the season, came out strong and aggressive, but Gomez was able to weather the initial attacks. Both wrestlers eventually traded takedowns before Gomez took control of the pace of the match. Gomez set up Bice with a throw and got Bice on her back. Gomez cinched in tight to score the fall at 1:30.

“I couldn’t be happier for Dallas,” GHC assistant coach Kateri Rowell said. “She works hard and always has a great attitude. It was her best wrestling of the year and at the right time.”

Two Grays Harbor wrestlers, Tatum Pine and Andrea Jones were also recognized for their academic achievement and earned Academic All-American status.

The Chokers also participated in the National Dual event the day after the individual event. The team went 1-3 overall.

“It was a fun way to finish up the JC season,” Coach Pine said. “We knew that the duals would be tough to win with a couple holes in the lineup but we got after it and had a good time.”

Other GHC top performers were Marissa Riojas, who went 6-2 over the weekend, Tatum Pine (6-1, 5 pins) and Jocelyn Fierro (5-2).

The team will now shift gears and will compete in the Northwest Conference Wrestling Association Conference Championships at 10 a.m. Saturday at Aberdeen High School.

Qualifiers will advance to the NCWA Nationals in Allen, Texa March 11-12.

— Submitted article

COLLEGE BASEBALL

Grays Harbor 12, Shoreline 1

After starting the season with three straight losses, Grays Harbor broke the goose egg with a 12-1 victory over Shoreline on Sunday in Woodinville.

The Chokers (1-3 overall) began its 2022 campaign with a doubleheader loss to Shoreline on Saturday, falling 4-1 and 5-2.

On Sunday, the Chokers offense got going to score six runs — including a four-run sixth inning highlighted by a two-run double from former Montesano product Aaron Lano — in the opener of a doubleheader.

But trailing 8-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, GHC allowed two runs in each of the seventh and eighth inning to suffer a 12-6 loss.

Facing an 0-4 start after the first weekend of the season, the Chokers offense erupted for 12 runs over the first four innings of the nightcap, including a four-run second inning and five-run fourth.

Catcher Alex Zhang went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs and three RBI for GHC, with Lano (2-4, 2B, 2R, 2RBI), third baseman Aidan McMurdo (2-4, 3R, 2RBI) and shortstop Ian Winterhalder (2-3, R, RBI) also collecting two hits apiece for a Chokers offense that smacked 10 base hits in the seven-inning game.

Colin Hoover got the start on the bump for GHC and was dominant, allowing one earned run on five hits while striking out four Shoreline batters in a complete-game performance.

Hoover didn’t allow a walk in the game and threw 57 strikes in 87 pitches.

GHC will face Southwest Oregon for doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday in Coos Bay, Oregon.

GHC 142 500 00 — 12 10 0

Shoreline 000 100 00 — 1 5 2

WP — Hoover (7 IP, 5H, ER, 4K); LP — Cooper (2 IP, 4H, 6R, 5ER, 2K, 5BB)

Leading Hitters: GHC — McMurdo (2-4, 3R, 2RBI); Winterhalder (2-3, R, RBI); Lano (2-4, 2B, 2R, 2RBI); Zhang (2-5, 2 2B, 2R, 3RBI). Shoreline — MacKenzie (2-3, 2B), Kennedy (1-2, 2B).