Chelan boys wrestling competed at the first ever team state duals. Taking one of the lowest seeds in the bracket Chelan took on a tough castle rock line up first dual. Freshman Salvador De Leon got our first win of the dual sealing a pin at 144lbs. Senior Zimri Kelling and JR Maddox finch were also able to secure back to back pins to round out the dual. Although we only have 4 wins we fought hard against one of the toughest teams in the state.

In the second round Chelan matched up with Connell for an exciting close dual. Connell took an early lead with a major decision and a tech fall for 9 points. Chelan answered back with a pin from Gavin Tjeersdma at 120lbs and Freshman Skylar Kenoyer taking a forfeit just after. Connells 10th state ranked wrestler sealed a pin before Senior Sebastian Cisneros came brought the momentum back pinning Connells 138lber a 5th ranked wrestler. At this point the dual stood at Chelan 18 Cornell 15. Freshman Salvador De Leon kept the momentum rolling pinning and getting 6 more points on the board for Chelan. Jr Johannes Lund received a FF spreading the score board in Chelans favor at 30-15. Connell fought the momentum back sealing 2 back to back wins but JR Maddoc Finch stopped them in their tracks with another pin. With the goats only having 1 wrestler left at 190lbs knowing they were forfeiting 215 and 285 the scored lined up at 30-27. Sophomore Nick Bahena needed not only to win but to earn a bonus point via pin, tech fall or major decision which is winning by 8 points. The match started slow and although Bahena had the lead at 3-1 going into the 3rd, a simple win was not enough. During a blood time out coach Linton told Bahena he needed to fight for the extra points for his team. Bahena went out with 1 period left and almost got a pin scoring 4 near fall points to put them at 7-1. But this still wasn’t enough. Coach Linton and Coach Garcia both screaming to let him go and fight for a takedown in the final 20 seconds Bahena lets his guy build up the ref gives him the escape point and Bahena attacks the legs fighting the whole rest of the clock Bahena got the takedown to secure the victory for Chelan in the final seconds. Chelan won the dual 40-39.

In the final dual of the day Chelan matched up against #5 ranked Elma. Chelan’s first win didn’t come until 138 when Senior Cisneros Tech-falled the #7 state ranked wrestler. Senior Zimri Kelling also had an incredible match pinning the #6 wrestler at 165. Before Maddoc Finch beat the #6 state ranked wrestler at 175lbs 11-7. Nick Bahena again with the last match of the dual had an absolute nail biter that lasted 7 periods! Bahena came out on top of round 7 with an escape to end the dual with 3 victories in a row. Chelan lost to Elma 17-59 but had some incredible matches and fought very hard.

Coaches quote 

“This has been one of the better weekends of the year and it’s not necessarily because of how ‘good’ we did in the tournament. We went 1-2 and didn’t place but the big things that happened for us as a young growing team is – We got invited, we can down here and shocked some people, we took out ranked wrestlers, we fought against some of the 1st and 2nd ranked athletes in state, and we got comfortable competing alongside the best wrestlers in the state. I asked the team before the tournament started to put themselves in the first round at state in the second round at state so that way when we get to state we already had practice of what it feels like to be in these big matches. I think this weekend is going to send us into post season with a lot of momentum and fire and I can’t wait to see it.”

Coach Garcia 

These Chelan guys are tough, we practice hard, we compete hard, and even though we aren’t the best yet we are on the way to being the best. I’m proud of these guys and can’t wait to see them compete in these final weeks.