Thursday, March 28, 2024

Garcia places sixth at state wrestling tournament

Posted

TACOMA – Brewster senior varsity wrestler Gabe Garcia qualified for the WIAA Mat Classic XXXII state championships in the Tacoma Dome, Feb. 21-22, and brought home sixth place in the 1B/2B 160-pound bracket.
Garcia defeated senior Cole Piepgras of Chewelah by a fall in 4:43 minutes of his first match to advance to the second round against Kalama. Garcia lost by a fall in 48 seconds to Kalama sophomore Abram Foreman who would go on to place second at state.
In his third match Garcia pinned eighth-grader Levi Turner of Life Christian Academy in less than a minute to take a step closer to a medal round. In his fourth match Garcia on his second day of competition Garcia needed almost five minutes to defeat Toledo sophomore Damien Soto by a 10-1 decision and advance into the medal round.
Garcia faced Darrington senior Lucas Reuwsaat in the match to determine which wrestler would get to compete for third or fourth place, Garcia lost by a technical fall. Reuwsaat advanced to take fourth in his next round while Garcia squared off against Selkirk junior Bert Bennett for fifth and sixth place. Bennet out-pointed Garcia, 11-7, for fifth, leaving the Bear with the sixth-place hardware.
 Garcia ended his high school wrestling career with his best finish at state. He began as a Bears’ varsity wrestler in the eighth grade but did not qualify for state that year.
“I made it my freshman year but did not place,” Garcia said adding that he did not make the state cut as a sophomore.
As a state contender last year Garcia missed a medal by a few matches but made it onto the podium this time around.
During Regional competition at Oroville, Feb. 15, Garcia waded through Tonasket and Kittitas opponents to place second at 160 pounds behind Seth Baugher of Oroville. Baugher went on to place third at state.
Pateros freshman Nate Hart made his first state appearance in the 132-pound bracket but did not place.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here