VASHON ISLAND – It might not be the biggest wrestling tournament Orting High School visits this season, but it is certain to be the one with the heaviest prize haul.
“The Rock,” an annual invitational in it 25th edition, is the longest-running, small-school tournament in the state. The Cardinals, a small-school power, made a dominating appearance Wednesday at Vashon High School.
Orting sent seven wrestlers to the finals. All seven won their matches, and the Cardinals won not only the team title, they brought home the 40-pound gold-colored rock to put in their trophy case.
If a letdown worry existed within the Cardinals’ camp, coming off a fantastic showing at Tri-State in Idaho, it did not show up.
“So much experience,” Orting coach Mike Sowards said. “We are an older team. For them, it would be an embarrassment to let down.”
Champions for the top-ranked Class 1A Cardinals included Fred Green at 106 pounds (15-0 decision over Ridgefield’s Casey Oviatt), Austin Dodson at 113 (pin over Quincy’s Christian Alejandrez in 3 minutes, 36 seconds), Dillon Stiles at 120 (pin over Quincy’s John Lindquist in 3:31), Drew Templeman at 126 (16-0 decision over Mount Baker’s Joey Walton), Shannon Maris at 138 (14-4 decision over Blaine’s Shaypher Hendricks), Mike Moniz at 145 (pin over Quincy’s Isias Jimenez in :48) and Dylan Thomas at 152 (pin over Elma’s Christin Guiterrez in 1:11).
The toughest match was supposed to be at 138. But Maris jumped out quickly over Hendricks, and cruised in impressive fashion.
“I thought it might be a little closer,” Maris said. “But I did everything I had to. …You know, Tri-State is good preparation for all these tournaments and state.”
Green is the newcomer to the team – a ninth grader expected to be the next standout for the Cardinals. And he already captured his second tournament title of the season by defeating Oviatt.
“I figured people would know me,” Green said. “Turns out they don’t. And they don’t know what I do, either.”
The most exciting match of the finals came at 182 between Mount Baker’s Vlas Bezugly and Elma’s Anthony Heller – two strong teenagers looking to go high and throw their opponent to the mat.
But this one got interesting in the third round. As the two got tangled up going out of bounds, Bezugly flipped Heller on the hard gymnasium floor.
Both wrestlers kept their cool. Heller ended up winning the title, 9-4.
“Anthony is a very intense young man … but he kept his cool,” Elma coach Jason Dick said. “Our tournament was kind of disappointing (as a team). We should have had two or three more wrestlers in the finals, but had a tough semifinal round.”
Of course, the hometown crowd feverishly roots for its own, and Vashon’s Robert Easton – competing in his first tournament coming off a fractured kneecap from football – did not disappoint.
The teenager known as “Beastin’ Easton” stopped Montesano’s Bo Russell, 11-4, to win at 220.
“A big spot to come in on,” Easton said. “It was hard with no conditioning. I was very tired.”
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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