Senior Josh Wessels (170 pounds) ended his Cheney High School wrestling career on a high note after he took third place in his weight division at the Mat Classic XXVI championships, Feb. 21-22, in Tacoma.
Wessels made it to state in his junior year, but was eliminated in the early rounds of the competition. This year, he defeated Othello’s Jesus Montes in the finals of the consolation bracket by decision, 5-4.
Wessels’ road to third place was not an easy one. In his first match, he came back from a 5-0 deficit to pin Aberdeen’s Tavo Sanchez in the third period. In his’ next match, he lost to the eventual 170-pound tournament winner, Bobby Reese of King’s, who pinned the senior Blackhawk in the second period.
In the first two rounds of the consolation bracket, Wessels picked up victories over Washington’s Jacob Nelson, who he defeated by decision 5-3 in overtime, and Burlington Edison’s Wes Flury, who Wessels beat by decision, 10-2.
Prior to facing Montes, Wessels got a little revenge after he defeated Deer Park’s Jason Aebischer by decision, 5-2. Aebischer had beaten Wessels in the championship finals of districts and regionals earlier this month.
Blackhawk wrestling head coach Brad Rasmussen said that Wessels had the goal of earning a medal in the state tournament and showed dedication, amazing work ethic and a great attitude.
“He set the example of how when you set a goal and work hard for it, you can achieve anything,” Rasmussen said.
Wessels was not the only Blackhawk who went to Tacoma. Sophomore Devon Waterman (182), who placed third in his weight division at regionals, lost to Port Angeles’ Matt Robbins via pin in the first period of his first match. In his next bout, he defeated Orting’s Jarred Hipple, by decision, 9-0.
In his final match of the night, Waterman lost to Anacortes’ Aaron Tisinger via decision, 7-3.
Rasmussen said that Waterman, who began the season on JV, competed well.
“[Waterman] earned that state trip and his journey was paid with blood, sweat and tears in the wrestling room,” Rasmussen said. “What a great kid and we are excited to see what is in store for him in the future.”
In team scores, Cheney placed 31st with 19 points.
Rasmussen said he and the other coaches were proud of how the team wrestled this year. He looks forward to competing in the future.
He also mentioned that freestyle wrestling starts in a week, along with an after-school spring lifting program to help athletes get ready for next year.
“We are a young team with a lot of potential, it will just come down to keeping kids healthy and improving every day,” Rasmussen said.
Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].
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