Peninsula Comes Up Short on First Day of Mat Classic

sent three wrestlers to the state tournament, but none will be bringing home a state title after some tough second-round draws knocked each wrestler out of the title bracket.

Each wrestler from Peninsula had a successful first-round match but then went on to lose their second round contests.

Two wrestlers from Peninsula are still alive in the race for third place in the 3A division. Michael Sly and Casey Larson both rebounded from second-round losses to win their next matches and ensure that they will still be around come day two.

Tyler Allen also rebounded after losing his second-round loss, but then lost his next match and is no longer in contention for a place.

Enumclaw took care of business on the first day of the Mat Classic and looks primed to make a run at its third state title in four years.

The Hornets emerged as the big winners of the day, advancing seven wrestlers past the first round and three into the semifinals, to give the Hornets a 66-57.5 lead in the team rankings over second-place University.

Enumclaw’s only real set-back came when defending state champion Hunter File was shocked in the 130-pound quarterfinals by Josh St. Marie of Glacier Peak, dropping File into the losers bracket and ensuring that he will finish no higher than third the year after winning it all.

Still, Enumclaw was confident of their chances to win the overall title.

“We almost feel like we got it in the sack,” Kario Wallin, who qualified for the semifinals at 160 pounds, said of the team title. “It’s meant to be, everything’s going together so well.”

Mercer Island was a surprise first-round success, as the Islanders put five wrestlers into the second round. But the Islanders luck ran out in the face of a tough round of match-ups and Mercer Island had to settle for ninth place after day one.

University, Sunnyside and Kelso all placed in the top 5 of team rankings, as expected, along with Yelm. University and Enumclaw entered the tournament as the favorites, while Sunnyside and Kelso were expected to compete.