Twin Harbor wrestlers top podium at Grizzly Alumni Invitational

Led by Aberdeen, local grapplers win nine of 13 weight-class titles

Local talent was on display at the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday at Hoquiam Square Garden, winning nine of 13 weight-class championships.

Aberdeen led the way with four weight-class titles and the overall team title.

Tyler Caskey (120 pounds), Jack Dore (132), Aiden Watkins (152) and Aiden McKinney (285) each placed first in their weight classes as the Bobcats were the only team other than the Elma Eagles to have multiple competitors win an individual title.

Rique Gadwa placed second in the 126-pound weight class with Aberdeen teammates John Prentice (106) and Dre Brown (145) placing third.

Aberdeen scored 231 points, 90 points better than second-place Hoquiam.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Hoquiam’s Oliver Bryson, right, competes with North Beach’s Christian Lopez during the 160-pound final of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Bryson won via pinfall at 2:54.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Hoquiam’s Oliver Bryson, right, competes with North Beach’s Christian Lopez during the 160-pound final of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Bryson won via pinfall at 2:54.

The Grizzlies got a title victory from Oliver Bryson at 160 pounds and second-place finishes from Lincoln Troseth (106) and Anthony Burtenshaw (195).

Nine different Hoquiam wrestlers placed in the top six as the Grizzlies depth was key to earning the second spot in the 13-team field.

“We had a bit of an up and down day, but overall the kids were pretty successful,” Hoquiam head coach TJ Helland said. “Any time a team scores well in a tournament it takes more than a few making the finals. The depth of our squad came through with kids wrestling hard, from the placing matches down to a few guys getting their first action of the season due to a variety of reasons.”

Led by weight-class titles from Aidyn Johnson (106) and Austin Salazar (195), Elma scored 129 points to place third.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Elma’s Austin Salazar, top, grapples with Hoquiam’s Anthony Burtenshaw during the 195-pound final of the Grizzly Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Salazar won the title with a 12-5 decision.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Elma’s Austin Salazar, top, grapples with Hoquiam’s Anthony Burtenshaw during the 195-pound final of the Grizzly Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Salazar won the title with a 12-5 decision.

The Eagles also got top-three finishes from Hunter Price (285, 2nd), Kale Reeves (132, 3rd), Blaize Salazar (126, 3rd) and Aiden McCain (195, 3rd).

North Beach placed sixth overall with 91 points, led by standout Wyeland Lomedico’s first-place title in the 126-pound weight class.

Hyaks Christian Lopez (160, 2nd), Dominik Jerome (152, 3rd) and Adriel Fabian (120, 3rd) also placed in the top three for North Beach.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG North Beach’s Wyeland Lomedico, top, grapples with Aberdeen’s Rique Gadwa in the 126-pound final of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Lomedico won via a 9-2 decision.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG North Beach’s Wyeland Lomedico, top, grapples with Aberdeen’s Rique Gadwa in the 126-pound final of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Lomedico won via a 9-2 decision.

Ocosta placed eighth overall with 84.5 points. The Wildcats were led by Andrew Martin, who placed first at 145 pounds.

Ronin Rutzer (132, 2nd), Aiden Davis (138, 3rd) and Gage Grigsby (220, 3rd) also placed high atop the podium for Ocosta.

Willapa Harbor placed 11th with 57 points.

Lucas Swogger placed first in the 138-pound class with Carson Borden (145) and Cody Strozyk (182) each taking second for Willapa Harbor.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Ocosta’s Andrew Martin, bottom, and Willapa Harbor’s Carson Borden compete in the 145-pound championship match of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Martin won via 9-6 decision.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Ocosta’s Andrew Martin, bottom, and Willapa Harbor’s Carson Borden compete in the 145-pound championship match of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam. Martin won via 9-6 decision.

Helland said the high amount of local talent on the podium in an event that featured seven teams from outside the area was promising.

“There was a lot of local flavor in the finals and all over the podium, which is great to see,” he said. “We have a growing wrestling community in the Twin Harbors area that is rebounding well from the impact of the pandemic and it makes hosting these events more enjoyable.”

For full meet results, visit arena.flowrestling.org.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen placed first with a total of 231 points to win the team title of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen placed first with a total of 231 points to win the team title of the Grizzly Alumni Invitational on Saturday in Hoquiam.

Team Results

1, Aberdeen 231 points. 2, Hoquiam 141. 3, Elma 129. 4, Tenino 113. 5, Olympia 102. 6, North Beach 91. 7, Castle Rock 85.5. 8, Ocosta 84.5. 9-T, Cle Elum 81. 9-T, Nooksack Valley 81.

Individual Results

106 pounds: 1, Aidyn Johnson, Elma. 2, Lincoln Troseth, Hoquiam. 3, John Prentice, Aberdeen.

113: 1, Xavier Smith, Ilwaco. 2, Landon Button, Cle Elum. 3, Ladon Fulton, Castle Rock.

120: 1, Tyler Caskey, Aberdeen. 2, Colin O’Cain, Cle Elum. 3, Adriel Fabian, North Beach.

126: 1, Wyeland Lomedico, North Beach. 2, Rique Gadwa, Aberdeen. 3, Blaize Salazar, Elma.

132: 1, Jack Dore, Aberdeen. 2, Ronin Rutzer, Ocosta. 3, Kale Reeves, Elma.

138: 1, Lucas Swogger, Willapa Harbor. 2, Nolen Nelson, Castle Rock. 3, Aiden Davis, Ocosta.

145: 1, Andrew Martin, Ocosta. 2, Carson Borden, Willapa Harbor. 3, Dre Brown, Aberdeen.

152: 1, Aiden Watkins, Aberdeen. 2, Sergey Frolov, Olympia. 3, Dominik Jerome, North Beach.

160: 1, Oliver Bryson, Hoquiam. 2, Christian Lopez, North Beach. 3, Mason Darvell, Castle Rock.

170: 1, Bayron Rodriguez, Toledo Winlock. 2, Zachary Bergford, Olympia. 3, Josiah Beiter, Cle Elum.

182: 1, Randall Marti, Tenino. 2, Cody Strozyk, Willapa Harbor. 3, Shon Visser, Nooksack Valley.

195: 1, Austin Salazar, Elma. 2, Anthony Burtenshaw, Hoquiam. 3, Aiden McCain, Elma.

220: 1, Lance Skinner, Olympia. 2, Koy Knox, Tenino. 3, Gage Grisby, Ocosta.

285: 1, Aiden McKinney, Aberdeen. 2, Hunter Price, Elma. 3, Anders White, Cle Elum.