Kentwood wrestlers rule league tournament mats

Kentwood, behind six individual champions, captured the North Puget Sound League Cascade/sub-distinct wrestling meet title at Kent-Meridian High School last Saturday.

The Conquerors finished with 393 points, qualifying several individuals and alternates for this week’s regional tournament, the final step to state.

The top-four finishers from the league tournament qualified for this Saturday’s regionals. First bouts begin at 10 a.m. at Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way. The top four finishers from regionals advance to Mat Classic XXXI at the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 15-16.

At the league showcase, Tahoma (304.5) was second, followed by Kent Meridian (265.5), Hazen (192.5), Kentlake (152), Kennedy Catholic (99) and Kentridge (93.5).

The Conks got a weight-class title from 113-pound freshman Wylder Kraght (34-3) who pinned K-M sophomore Jasper Ayers (36-14) in 4 four minutes, 18 seconds.

Senior Jabril Muhammad (126 pounds, 37-3) won by injury default over Kennedy Catholic’s Mateo De La Pena. Senior Alex Long (152, 28-4) downed Kentlake’s Tyler Hayes by injury default. And senior Mason Statler (170, 35-12) took a 4-3 decision against K-M’s Boden Duerre.

Junior Victor Juarez (285, 31-6) pulled out 2-0 decision against K-M’s Dilan Sosa-Zuniga, and sophomore Dominic Kremer (195, 29-3) topped Tahoma’s Gage Dress-Moran with a 9-3 decision.

At 182 pounds, senior Connor Plett (30-10) dropped his championship bout to Tahoma’s Michael Gasper by injury default.

Kent-Meridian crowned two champions – 132-pound senior Sokhan Son (24-13), who pinned Hazen’s John Gonzalez Franco, and 160-pound senior Rodrigo Teixeira (38-7), who scored a 5-1 decision against Kentwood’s John Thompson (28-13).

Kentridge’s lone winner came from 145-pound senior Tyler Smith (20-7), who won by injury default over teammate Juan Gayles (22-14).