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LEWISTON–Pomeroy Junior High wrestlers competed at the year-end Bi-State Wrestling tournament at Lewiston High School March 2, said to be the largest Bi State tourney ever, according to the tournament director.
"Pomeroy came home with four medals and a lot of great mat time," said Coach Fred Knebel.
Jess Winona, Arliss Bray, and Cassie Domras all placed second in their respective weight classes, and first-year wrestler Christian Ramirez took home the third-place medal by decisioning teammate Lincoln Lovgren in a nail-biter medal round match.
"Lovgren really came focused at the Bi-State tournament and was seconds away from earning a medal," Knebel said. "We lost several very intense close matches and I was proud of the attitudes our wrestlers displayed. They represented Pomeroy extremely well."
Cassie Domras wrestled very tough as she pinned two girls on her way to a second-place medal.
Abram Klippenstein and Kael Edwards continued to show excellent improvement over the season.
Several sixth graders–Corbin Nelson, Sam Bagby, and the Taylor twins, Dylan and Tyler–ran up against upperclassman and that is a very tough gap, Knebel said. "Next year, they will be in the middle of the grade levels and it will make a huge difference," he said.
"Corbin did not lose to another sixth grader this season," he said. "Sam, Dylan, and Tyler were constantly wrestling against seventh graders. They will be fun to watch next season.
Jackson Hutchens came into the tournament not feeling well and lost a couple of very close matches, Knebel said. "Jackson's work ethic and his desire to learn wrestling is exceptional," he said.
"Jovani Polanco broke his thumb at the last match, therefore, was unable to wrestle at Bi-State," Knebel said. "Jovani was on a three-win run at the time of his injury."
Knebel commented on other team members:
-Chance Savage wrestled hard and had some difficult opponents, he was improving every week and trying new moves from practice.
-James Blachly's improvement this year was second to none. He was at every practice minus a doctor's appointment, he really wanted to wrestle this year more than any other year due to his health issues and he had many wins on the season.
-Arliss Bray and Jess Winona traveled over an hour one way each day for practice. They, along with Jackson Hutchens, who traveled from the Tucannon each day, were the work horses who always did more than I asked. Jess always wanted to wrestle the toughest wrestlers in our region, that alone is a special trait for an athlete.
-Anthane Boyd came to many practices to help me with fifteen wrestlers and I appreciated his dedicated work on the mat each night.
Knebel was thankful for Jeremy Nelson for co-coaching and taking stats on the 'other' mat at the away matches. Head high school wrestling coach Mat Slaybaugh and assistant wrestling coach Joel Steele were crucial for helping out.
"I just have no idea how we would continue with wrestling in a small town without the help from so many," Knebel said..
