Aberdeen takes team title at inaugural Grizzly Stocking Stuffer tourney

Aberdeen’s depth and Hoquiam’s first-place punch were both on display at the inaugural Grizzly Stocking Stuffer girls wrestling tournament Wednesday at Hoquiam Square Garden.

Advancing six wrestlers to the finals, the Bobcats took the team championship with 128 1/2 points. Centralia was second with 108. Hoquiam, whose three titles matched Lincoln of Tacoma’s for tops in the 13-team field, placed third with 104.

“All in all, we wrestled pretty consistently as a team,” Aberdeen coach Craig Yakovich said.

Hoquiam’s Bianca Lopez, Alexis Delahanty and Jenna Doll and Aberdeen’s Emily Wharton and Mackayla Waltee were among the champions.

In keeping with a holiday motif, Aberdeen received a Christmas stocking in lieu of a trophy. Individual placewinners were presented with ornaments rather than medals.

The title round turned into a veritable pinfest, as 11 of the 13 title matches were decided by falls.

Not surprisingly, Aberdeen’s Wharton (a state runner-up last year) was one of the pinners. The AHS senior needed only 36 seconds to finish off Decatur’s Gabrielle Boyd in the 235-pound final.

Perhaps the Bobcat highlight, however, was provided by Waltee. The 145-pound junior pinned Centralia’s Sidney Arcuri, an eighth-place finisher at state last year, in 1:41 of the title contest.

“She wrestled the same girl last year and lost by 12 (points),” Yakovich noted. “That’s how far she’s come in the last year.”

Hoquiam’s Doll also scored a notable victory over Sequim’s Alma Mendoza in a battle of state veterans at 155 pounds. Doll had scored a four-point decision victory over the same opponent in last weekend’s Hammerhead Invitational in Bremerton.

Following a scoreless first round Wednesday, Doll registered an escape at the outset of the second round. She then took down Mendoza and pinned her at the 2:52 mark.

“Jenna recognized what her opponent was doing and took advantage of the opportunity,” Hoquiam coach Buck Giles observed.

Lopez took down Lincoln’s Sabrina Lumaban in the opening five seconds of their 105-pound title bout and completed the pin in 0:21.

Delahanty quickly decided the day’s lone all-Grays Harbor title match by pinning Aberdeen’s Bailee Green in 1:35 of their 110-pound contest.

Aberdeen’s Eleanore Machowek, Alex Wilson and Camryn Cook and Hoquiam’s Mercedes Pinnell and Elyse Goulet each finished second.

Machowek scored the match’s opening takedown, but was pinned by Decatur’s Adriana Silva late in the first round of their 170-pound final.

Wilson was pinned by Lincoln’s Kayla Hoy in 3:53 of the 130-pound title match. After narrowly escaping a pin at the end of the first round, the 140-pound Cook succumbed to Napavine’s Kaitlyn Bornstein midway through the second stanza.

Pinnell and Goulet had the distinction of being the only two losing finalists to go the distance. State veteran Mayia Blackston decisioned Pinnell, 13-3, at 120 pounds. Sequim’s Kiara Pierson downed Goulet, 11-4, in the 125-pound title match.

Natasha Fruh was North Beach’s top finisher. After dropping a 7-6 decision to Boyd in the semifinals, Fruh settled for third at 235 pounds.

Hoquiam will compete in a New Year’s Eve tournament at Sedro-Woolley. The Grizzlies will join the Bobcats at the prestigious Kelso Invitational on Jan. 6-7.

Grizzly Stocking Stuffer Invitational

100: Championship — Taryn Salazar (Centralia. 105: Championship — Bianca Lopez (Hoquiam) pinned Sabrina Lumaban (Lincoln), 0:21. 3. Faith Cardenas (Aberdeen). 4. Kayla Trujillo (Eatonville). 110: Championship — Alexis Delahanty (Hoquiam) pinned Bailee Green (Aberdeen), 1:35. 3. Allyson Estes (Eatonville). 4. Bailea Brown (Centralia). 115: Championship — Selicia Lee (Washington) pinned Autumn Waltman (Centralia), 0:42. 3. Taylor Curtis (Eatonville). 4. Megan Puksta (Sequim). 120: Championship — Mayia Blackston (Lincoln) dec. Mercedes Pinnell (Hoquiam), 13-3. 3. Olivia Bransen (Eatonville). 4. Ali Silva (Centralia. 125: Championship — Kiara Pierson (Sequim) dec. Elyse Goulet, 11-4. 3. Lillian Salmon (Washington). 4. Kailey Christoph (Graham-Kapowsin). 130: Championship — Kayla Hoy (Lincoln) pinned Alex Wilson (Aberdeen), 3:53. 3. Cierra Skelly (Aberdeen, non-scoring). 4. Samantha Teitzel (Centralia).

135: Championship — Gali Valancia (Graham-Kapowsin) pinned Sydney Burdick (Napavine), 0:32. 3. Kupria LaPierre (Centralia). 4. Vasilsa Tyurina (Decatur). 140: Championship — Kaitlyn Bornstein (Napavine) pinned Camryn Cook (Aberdeen), 3:33. 3. Savannah Chandler (Aberdeen, non-scoring). 4. Britney Discolo (Graham-Kapowsin). 145: Championship — Mackayla Waltee (Aberdeen) pinned Sidnee Acury (Centralia). 3. Malia Aparis (Decatur). 4. Abby Copeland (Graham-Kapowsin). 155: Championship — Jenna Doll (Hoquiam) pinned Alma Mendoza (Sequim), 2:52. 3. Alexis Kysar (LaCenter). 4. Tyler Jorgenson (Centralia). 170: Championship — Adrianna Silva (Decatur) pinned Eleanore Machowek (Aberdeen), 1:54. 3. Sarah Ulmer (Sequim). 4. Osheona Green (Washington). 190: Championship — Mecca Chase (Lincoln) pinned Glaysia Sparling (Decatur), 5:52. 3. Kylie Omeli (Washington). 4. Renay Chase (Lincoln, non-scoring). 235: Championship — Emily Wharton (Aberdeen) pinned Gabrielle Boyd (Decatur), 0:36. 3. Natasha Fruh (North Beach). 4. Stephanie Thacker (Graham-Kapowsin).