After dozens of Whatcom County’s finest wrestlers qualified for the 2018 Mat Classic, only 19 are still wrestling on Saturday. Eight of which won their first two matches on Friday, and are still capable of being crowned state champion.
In the 3A ranks, Squalicum has been strong and is currently in 10th place with 37 points. The regional champion Ferndale grapplers are currently in 15th place with 23.5 points. Mount Spokane is leading with 113 points. The Storm are being led by seniors Brian Pullman (220 lbs) and Jase Cooper (120). Pullman had a pair of one-point victories, while Cooper had a pin in the first round, and won 4-1 in the second round. Juniors Dominick Mack (285) and Jaiden Bundy (113) are each still alive after winning their first match, losing their second, but coming back and winning their third.
The Golden Eagles still have a pair of wrestlers continuing on Saturday. Senior Alex Cleary (182) is in the semifinals after winning his first two matches on Friday, and junior Jaden Schwartz (145) followed up a heart-breaking 4-3 defeat by winning two matches in a row.
In 2A, the traditionally strong Borderites of Blaine are currently in 16th place with 22 points. Senior Chase DuBois (160) won both of his matches on Friday, and is making a run at a state championship. Juniors Aidan Button (152) and Jacob Westfall (182) each won in the first round, lost in the second, but are still alive by winning their third match of the day. Lynden still has a pair of juniors competing on Saturday. Payton Scott (170) and Pablo Martinez (120) each lost in the first round, but have racked up two wins in a row.
Mount Baker’s 30 points currently puts it in 15th place in the 1A ranks, and will have three wrestlers receiving medals, two of which went undefeated yesterday. Senior Jonathon Sanchez (145) and junior Braeden Shannon (285) are each in the semifinals, Shannon getting both of his victories with 1st round pins. Junior Skyler Isaacson lost in the first round, but he has followed that up with two decisive wins. Sanchez will be wrestling Meridian senior Jake Cheney in the semifinals, after Cheney pinned his first two opponents on Friday. And, Nooksack Valley 106-pound junior, Marvin Calmo was pinned in the first round, but has won two matches in a row to stay alive.
In the girls division senior Lynnette Samano (120), from the Bellingham school district, won her first two matches, and the Mountaineers have a pair of wrestlers, in junior Shelby Sears (190) and freshman Ebonney Bowhay (125), that are still in competition in the consolation bracket.
