Hawks' wrestle at Colville, Yakima

The Cheney Blackhawks wrestling team continues to grind through the season.

The team traveled to Colville to wrestle the Indians, Dec. 18. Colville would win the meet, 53- 24.

Despite losing losing the meet in points, several Cheney wrestlers put on impressive performances throughout the evening.

In the 182-pound division, Josh Wessels earned a 9-2 decision victory over Brock Vanquekelberg.

At 145 pounds, Vern Sanderson scored points for the Blackhawks when he captured a 10-4 decision win over Grady Nelson, who is one of Colville’s top wrestlers, according to Blackhawks wrestling head coach Brad Rasmussen.

In 195-pound weight class, Devon Waterman, who was thrown in the competition at the last minute, pinned Trey Powell at 1:19 into the first round.

Waterman was not the only Blackhawk to score first-round pins. Michael Ferguson and Noah Ziemann secured pins over Sawyer Hughes Jack Smith, respectively.

Blackhawks wrestling head coach Brad Rasmussen was proud for the team for competing in Colville, which can be a hostile atmosphere to visiting teams.

“They have this bell they ring whenever a Colville wrestler wins … most of our kids are young and have never seen anything like that,” Rasmussen said. “But it was good. We’re making progress.”

Two days after the meet in Colville, the team traveled to Yakima to compete in the Sundome Invitational. The Blackhawks had a team score of 113 points, placing 11th.

Cheney had two wrestlers win individual championships. Sanderson took first place at 145 pounds after he defeated Cristian Francisco, of Zilliah High School. Wessels took the top spot at the 182-pound weight class after he defeated Brian Timme, of Ellensburg.

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].