Winona second at Gorilla Invitational

DAVENPORT–Pirate wrestler Curtis Winona finished second–again–at the Gorilla Invitational here Dec. 16, continuing with aggressive performances so far this season.

Next up for the Pirate Wrestling Team is the Pomeroy Christmas Tournament on Dec. 30.

"The guys are all showing good improvement from week to week which will make the difference when we get to the end of the season," observed Head Coach Mat Slaybaugh.

Winona, competing in the 190-lb. classification, opened with a bye then faced Sterling McLaughlin of Reardan, winning by fall at :44. In the championship round, he wrestled Brock Gustaveson of Davenport, losing by fall at :44. Winona "had another tough finals match," Slaybaugh said.

Pirate Peyton Cannon faced Solomon Holmberg of Davenport in the opening round, pinning Holmberg at 3:32 to advance in the championship bracket.

Sophomore Cannon went up against junior Simon Jones of Kittitas, but lost by fall at 1:37. Jones went on to win the bracket. Cannon came in third by defeating Cameron Clovis of Asotin, pinning him at :40 for third place.

"Peyton had his best performance of the year, working his way through the bracket for a third-place finish," Slaybaugh said.

"Freshman Kole Zimmerman continues to challenge upper classmen and was able to work his way to fifth place," Slaybaugh said. Zimmerman opened against Nathan Rasmussen of Selkirk, being pinned at 4:34, In the consolation bracket, Zimmerman pinned Alex Cruden of Kettle Falls at 2:04 and ended up in the quarter finals against Ricky Hood of Kettle, battling but getting pinned at :17.

He finished by defeating Tristan Vanarsdall of Selkirk for fifth place, pinning him at 3:37.