Pirate wrestlers advance to regionals

COLBERT–Three Pirate wrestlers advanced to the 1B/2B East Regional tournament in Warden Feb. 12, finishing in the top five at the 7/9 Sub-Regional matches here Saturday.

Walker Flynn finished second in the 145-lb. division to advance, Curtis Winona was fifth in the 170-lb. class, and Braedyn White came in third in the 182-lb. division to move on.

“Walker Flynn had a great day, wrestling his way into the 145-lb. finals match,” Coach Ben Slaybaugh commented. “He gave the other kid everything he wanted and almost stuck him a couple times, but ended up losing in the end to finish second. He’s fun to watch because he’s never out of a match with his ability to scramble and make big moves.”

White fought his way through the consolation bracket after losing a tough semifinals match, Slaybaugh said. “He shook it off and got back to work winning his next two matches against some tough guys to finish third,” he said.

“Curtis dropped a couple real close matches that could have gone his way but I think he’s going to surprise some people in a couple weeks at regionals,” Slaybaugh said. “He’s a strong tough kid that you had better not underestimate.”

Lane Shawley and Nick Hastings had a tougher day finishing outside of the top five, Slaybaugh said.

Shawley (132): WBF vs N. Witt of Innovation; LBF vs N. Eglan of Selkirk; LBD vs E. Jolley of Wilbur-Creston-Keller.

Flynn (145): WBF vs K. Kuehne of WCK; WBF vs J. Thompson of Chewelah; WBF vs Z. Hoff of Davenport; LBD vs M. Small of Mary Walker.

Hastings (170): LBD vs D. Valadez of Mary Walker; LBF vs C. Holling.

Winona (170): WBF vs D. Valadez of Mary Walker; LBD vs J. Pierce of Almira-Coulee-Hartline; LBF vs C. Holling of Liberty; WBD vs R. Cash of Davenport.

White (182): WBF vs D. Medeiros of Kettle Falls; LBF vs J. Qwik of Liberty; WBD vs G. Rainer of Chewelah; WBD vs T. Ensley of Colfax.

The competition was tough at the final regular-season match in Colfax Jan. 25.

Shawley was undefeated, winner by decision over 132-lb. B. Pete-Briggs of Davenport and pinning L. Mathews of NWC.

White wone two and lost one to a league rival. S. Schneider of Davenport pinned him in the first match, but he rallied and pinned L. Hamilton of Reardan and won by decision over T. Ensley of Colfax.

Hastings (182) “had a tough night,” Slaybaugh said, “but put together three tough matches that unfortunately did not go his way.” Hastings lost to L. Hamilton of Reardan, lost by decision to R. Cash of Davenport and was pinned by G. Smith of LRS.