Pateros-Brewster wrestlers bring home three medals from NOHI

OROVILLE – Varsity wrestlers Kaitlin Garcia, and Satin Wright on the combined Pateros-Brewster wrestling team led the charge for the grapplers at the Oroville North Okanogan Holiday Invitational (NOHI) tournament on Saturday, Dec. 22.

Both girls won second place medals; Wright in the 106-pound division and Garcia at 115 pounds.

Senior state veteran Gabe Garcia placed third at 182 pounds in a field that included a dozen 2B and 1A schools. Teams competing at NOHI included:
Oroville (host)
Almira-Coulee-Hartline
Chelan
Kittitas
Lind-Ritzville-Sprague
Liberty Bell
Okanogan
Republic
Selkirk
Tonasket
Wilbur-Creston

The Pateros-Brewster wrestlers were on the road at Lake Roosevelt High School on Friday, Dec. 28 against teams from Columbia (Burbank), Kittitas, Oroville, Omak, and Rainier.

Next up for the Pateros-Brewster team on Saturday, Jan. 12, is the Sgt. Norton Memorial Tournament at Rainier. The local wrestlers will take on 16 teams representing Adna, Bellevue Christian, Castle Rock, Forks, Kiona Benton, Kalama, Klahowya, Lake Roosevelt, Mount Baker, Mabton, Montesano, Nooksack Valley, Ocosta, Tenino, and Vashon Island.

In a related development, Brewster resident and wrestling booster, Cindy Cavazos has been hired as the new assistant coach for the Pateros-Brewster varsity team. She will assist head coach Shane Kelly.

Cavazos’ affiliation with high school wrestling dates to 1993-94 when, as a BHS senior she witnessed the debut of Bears varsity wrestling under then coach Bill Haley. Garcia wanted to be the first girl varsity wrestler on the team “but it was the first year of a new program and I didn’t want to make waves,” Garcia said.

She has, however, been active in coaching all five of her children as they moved through the school teams.

Oldest son, Jose, now a U.S. Marine, was the 2016 undefeated 120-pound state champion.

Son, Alex Garcia won the 2017-18 state championship in the 285-pound bracket, competed in the National High School Coaches‘ Association High School National Wrestling Tournament and now wrestles for Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake.

Son, Gabe, a BHS senior is a state veteran, and daughter, Kaitlin, is a sophomore on the varsity squad.

Youngest son, AJ, 14, is an eighth grader and will break into the varsity ranks next year.