Irving, TX — Grays Harbor College wrestler Jennifer Tongi led a throng of Chokers wrestlers that competed at the United World Wrestling Nationals and World Team Trials May 7-9 in Irving, Texas.

Tongi went 4-2 over the weekend and placed fifth in the 70 kilogram weight class to earn All-American honors.

“This was best we have seen her wrestle this season,” GHC head coach Kevin Pine said. “Jennifer was able to capitalize when she was able to get someone on their back … they did not get off.”

Other strong performances from GHC grapplers were Tatum Pine (59 kg) and Kamila Montenegro (76 kg). Both wrestlers made it the round of 12 — also known as the “Blood Round” — but came up short of earning a medal.

Joss Fierro went 1-2 and Andrea Jones was 0-2 over the weekend.

“Joss and Andrea both wrestled very tough,” Pine said. “They were scoring points but just came up short. It was a great learning experience for the entire squad.”

The team had a day off before entering the U23 (ages 20-23) tournament. The event started strong for the Chokers a string of wins against several NCAA and NAIA teams.

Tongi once againadvanced to medal round, falling only to the current Olympic alternate Kennedy Blades and a NCAA Division I wrestler to garner her second fifth-place finish of the weekend.

Tatum Pine advanced to the Blood Round once again, losing a heart-breaking decision to last year’s returning national champion. Pine had the lead late in the match but was taken down and turned in the final seconds.

Montenegro also had a great event, going 2-2 on the day. Andrea Jones also had a strong performance by going 1-2.

“Jones has made leaps and bounds of improvement this season,” Pine said. “This is the best she has wrestled so far this season.”

— Courtesy of Grays Harbor College Athletics

Aberdeen boys, Hoquiam girls find success at Forks Invitational

Multiple Twin Harbors wrestlers placed at the Forks Invitational on Saturday in Forks, with Aberdeen’s boys team and Hoquiam’s girls team placing high on the overall team leaderboards.

Aberdeen’s boys team placed second behind host Forks with 151 points.

Hoquiam placed fifth with 65 points.

Hoquiam placed first in the girls competition with 27 points to beat second-place Port Angeles by five points.

Local placers are as follows:

Boys Results

106 pounds — 1, Talathian Warness, Aberdeen

120 —3, Ole Olson, Willapa Harbor. 4, Giovanny Castillo, Aberdeen

126 — 1, Joey Nelson, Aberdeen. 2, Wyeland Lomedico, North Beach. 4, Austin Russell, Aberdeen

132 — 3, Drew Lock, Aberdeen. 4, Michael Leontyer, Aberdeen

138 — 3, Logan Avery, Hoquiam. 4, Shayne Glowacki, Aberdeen

145 — 4, Cosmo Palmgren, Hoquiam

152 — 2, Jeremy Roberts, Aberdeen

160 — 2, Aiden Watkins, Aberdeen. 3, Jeshurun Richards, North Beach

182 — 2, Kyrin Bretz, Hoquiam. 4, Anthony Burtenshaw, Hoquiam

195 — 2, Seth Brown, Aberdeen

220 — 2, Jaden Hoseney, Aberdeen. 3, Noah Sudderth, Hoquiam. 4, Thomas Goulet, Hoquiam

285 — 2, Eric Hayter, Aberdeen

Girls Results

106 — Ary Simpson, Hoquiam

153 — 1, Kaliyah Bailey, Hoquiam. 3, Sarah Morgan, Hoquiam

168 — 1, Zoey Cook, Hoquiam. 3, Oktober Hart, Hoquiam

180 — 2, Akasha Deason, Hoquiam

Aberdeen’s girls team opens season

The Aberdeen Girls Wrestling Team made their first appearance on the season on Tuesday, May 8, wrestling a mix and match style event against girls from Elma, Yelm and host Tenino.

Aberdeen had 17 of athletes participating in the event and the team won 15 out of its 22 matches.

Returning state-qualifiers and current team captains Tatum Heikkila and Ashlyn Yakovich made their returns to the mat after both suffering season-ending injuries in 2020. Neither lost a step by besting their opponents by pin fall, Heikkila defeating Tenino’s Trinity Tafoya at 1:44 and Yakovich beating Yelm’s Alyssa Brown at 2:47.

Other standout performances came from the third team captain Madelynn Machowek and Raegan Portmann. Machowek wrestled twice on the night winning both by pin fall over Ilena Wall of Yelm at 5:01 and over Alyssa Brown of Yelm at 1:33. Aberdeen newcomer via Raymond Raegan Portmann won both of her bouts by fall over Tenino’s Emma Barr at 2:18 and Amalie Nix of Yelm at 2:37.

“It was nice to be back out on the mat watching the team again. I thought we looked pretty sharp for only having a few practices to get ready. I couldn’t be happier with the teams performance.”