Montesano’s boys wrestling team conquers The Rock

Bulldogs earn three weight-class titles, 10 medalists in victory at Vashon Island

By Ryan Sparks • December 29, 2024 10:30 pm
PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano freshman Finley Ekerson (top) works to pin Darrington’s Kinden Tollenaar during the 106-pound final of The Rock Tournament on Saturday at Vashon Island.
PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano freshman Finley Ekerson (top) works to pin Darrington’s Kinden Tollenaar during the 106-pound final of The Rock Tournament on Saturday at Vashon Island.

With three individual champions and 10 medalists, Montesano won the team title at The Rock Tournament on Saturday in Vashon Island.

The Bulldogs were led by weight-class winners Finley Ekerson, Gage Stutesman and Logan Roberts.

Ekerson defeated Darrington’s Kinden Tollenaar via fall at 1:32 to win the 106-pound title.

Stutesman claimed the top spot at 165 with a 16-12 victory over Mount Baker’s Wyatt Freeman.

Roberts won 9-3 over Blaine’s Otto Shelton to place atop the 285-pound class podium.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano junior Gage Stutesman (top) grapples with Mount Baker’s Wyatt Freeman in the 165-pound title match of The Rock Tournament on Saturday at Vashon Island.

PHOTO BY SUE MICHALAK BUDSBERG Montesano junior Gage Stutesman (top) grapples with Mount Baker’s Wyatt Freeman in the 165-pound title match of The Rock Tournament on Saturday at Vashon Island.

Monte’s Ben Howard (157 pounds) and Gabe Pyhala (175) placed second in their respective weight classes as the Bulldogs racked up 202.5 points to outpace Mount Baker (183.5 points, 2nd) and Blaine (149.5, 3rd).

Elma placed fifth overall with 130.5 points.

The Eagles were led by Jordan Meadows (113), Luis Torres (120) and Aidyn Johnson (126), each of whom placed second in their respective weight classes.

Elma had seven total medalists in the meet.

Hoquiam had two weight-class champions to place 10th overall with 75.5 points.

Standout seniors Junior Soto and Oliver Bryson each won their weight-class.

Soto defeated Elma’s Aidyn Johnson 4-0 to win the 126-pound class with Bryson defeating Meltiar Hatch of Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) via pinfall at 1:32 of the 165-pound final.

Full results available at trackwrestling.com.

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Results

Team standings

1, Montesano, 202.5. 2, Mount Baker, 183.5. 3, Blaine, 149.5. 4, Lake Stevens, 148.5. 5, Elma, 130.5. 6, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls), 121.5. 7, Granite Falls, 89.5. 8, Sultan, 84. 9, East Jefferson, 78. 10, Hoquiam, 75.5. 11, Darrington, 56. 12, Forks, 36.5. 13, Vashon Island, 31.5. 14, Black Hills, 30. 15, Sequim, 18.5.

Individual medalists

106 pounds: 1, Finley Ekerson, Montesano. 2, Kinden Tollenaar, Darrington. 4, Nathan Elliott, Darrington. 4, Isaiah Sapida, Lake Stevens. 5, Junior Tabu, Granite Falls.

113: 1, Roberto Rivera-Jesus, Black Hills. 2, Jordan Meadows, Elma. 4, Isley Chu, Lake Stevens. 4, Hank Cleverly, Montesano. 6-tie, Dexter Degenstein, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). 6-t, Charles Vogal, Lake Stevens.

120: 1, Cole Voigt, Blaine. 2, Luis Torres, Elma. 4-t, Bryson Nations, Darrington. 4-t, Adam Schmitz, Montesano. 6-t, Nico Rial, Granite Falls. 6-t, Jude Blake, Sultan.

126: 1, Junior Soto, Hoquiam. 2, Aidyn Johnson, Elma. 4-t, Vinnie Saia, Blaine. 4-t, Isaac Chu, Lake Stevens, 6-t, Isaac DeKriek, Mount Baker. 6-t, Aidyn Hancock, Blaine.

132: 1, Andrew Monteith, Mount Baker. 2, Creed Wright, Darrington. 4-t, Matt Campion, Blaine. 4-t, Gavin Ketchum, Lake Stevens. 6-t, Cooper Smith, Blaine. 6-t, Harlen Wesson, Darrington.

138: 1, Gavin Compton, Mount Baker. 2, Daniel Johner, Blaine. 4-t, Troy Rupe, Elma. 4-t, Praithan Borja, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). 6-t, Burton Chavis, Hoquiam. 6-t, Denali Deming, Blaine.

144: 1, Alessandro Rush, Lake Stevens. 2, Samuel Cummings, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). 4-t, Bryston Crawford, Elma. 4-t, Shaun Dugger, Mount Baker. 6-t, Mason Daily, Sultan. 6-t, Liam Feltner, Sultan.

150: 1, Myles Christen, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). 2, Manaseh Lanphear Ramirez, East Jefferson. 4-t, Kole Kjesbu, Montesano. 4-t, Henry Tobin, Mount Baker. 6-t, Will Henley, Vashon Island. 6-t, Canyon Flores, Lake Stevens.

157: 1, Grady White, East Jefferson. 2, Ben Howard, Montesano. 4-t, Rusty Johnson, Elma. 4-t, Joe Jordan, Mount Baker. 6-t, Erick Diaz, Granite Falls. 6-t, William Clarke, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls).

165: 1, Gage Stutesman, Montesano. 2, Wyatt Freeman, Mount Baker. 4-t, Joseph Roberts, Granite Falls. 4-t, Ben Orth, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). 6-t, Ethan Perovich, East Jefferson. 6-t, Lucky Douvier, Elma.

175: 1, Trever Laymance, Granite Falls. 2, Gabe Pyhala, Montesano. 4-t, Rhys Milligan, Blaine. 4-t, Thomas Cox, Blaine. 6-t, James Roberts, Granite Falls. 6-t, Moises Mendez-Pacheco, Sultan.

190: 1, Oliver Bryson, Hoquiam. 2, Meltiar Hatch, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls). 4-t, Cheyzen Quevedo, Lake Stevens. 4-t, Dylan Moa, Mount Baker. 6-t, Jon Parker Jr., Forks. 6-t, Kyle Caton, Montesano.

215: 1, Elijah Veal, Sultan. 2, Blake Koreski, Blaine. 4, Felix Romero, Montesano. 4-t, Sylis Maple, Mount Baker. 6-t, Blaze Turner, Lake Stevens. 6-t, Kaden Faller, East Jefferson.

285: 1, Logan Roberts, Montesano. 2, Otto Shelton, Blaine. 4-t, Jeremiah Sheridan, Mount Baker. 4-t, Samuel Green, Blaine. 6-t, Avery Greene, Forks. 6-t, Hunter Mounts, Lake Stevens.