Cheney wrestling defeats Pullman in final meet

The Cheney High wrestling team finished their regular season on several high notes, first defeating Pullman 58-19, in their final Great Northern League dual of the season, Jan. 27, then competing in the North Idaho Rumble, Jan. 29-30, where Devon Waterman (195 pounds) and Michael Ferguson (220) won their weight divisions.

Several Cheney wrestlers shined in the meet against the Greyhounds. Taylor Nguyen (126 pounds) kicked things off with a 13-0 major decision over Scott Hutchinson.

Cameron Wiseman (145) pinned Montre Green in 45 seconds while Francisco Martinez (152) pinned Hayden Muraszewski in the third period of their match.

“The kids were ready to rock and roll and they showed the community what we’re all about,” head coach Brad Rasmussen said. “They prepared for that night for a long time.”

Ferguson pinned Dietrik Mueller late in the first period. Garrett Pederson (285) pinned Joseph Silvia in 51 seconds. Billy Smith (106), Zack Nguyen (132), Boedy Taylor (170), J.W. Meriott (182) and Waterman all won their matches via forfeit.

“For the seniors who went out there and competed that night, it was a good way for them to end the last dual of their high school (careers),” Rasmussen said.

At the North Idaho Rumble, Waterman tore through his bracket, pinning Clearwater Valley’s Sean Nelson and American Falls’ Fernando Martinez, and defeating Bonners Ferry’s Fernando Martinez, 4-2. He pinned Post Falls’ Brad Noesen in the finals.

Following a first-round bye, Ferguson pinned Bonners Ferry’s Matt Varelman and Lakeland’s Antonio Brown. In the finals he defeated Coeur d’Alene’s Alex Marshall, 7-2.

Waterman and Ferguson weren’t the only ones to make it to the medal podium. Zack Nguyen and Pederson took fourth in their divisions while Martinez finished sixth.

Zack Nguyen was 2-1 before he lost to Lakeland’s Tyler Seigford, 5-0, in the third-place match.

Pederson was also 2-1, before losing to Post Falls’ Kameron Welker, 3-2.

Martinez went 4-2 in his bracket, losing to Sandpoint’s Mahoni Hunsaker via pin in the fifth-place match.

“The North Idaho Rumble is one of the toughest tournaments we compete in every year,” Rasmussen said. “I feel like we’ve gotten better every week and the Rumble was a good chance to see where we are at. To have five wrestlers place, it was a pretty good day.”

Taylor Nguyen and Wiseman went 1-2 in the tournament before being eliminated in the consolation round. Cheney finished eighth out of 19 teams with 113 points.

Cheney travels to East Valley, Feb. 6 to compete in the GNL districts. Last year the Blackhawks had seven wrestlers qualify for regionals, including Wiseman and Waterman who won their first individual district championhips.

Although he knows the GNL is tough, Rasmussen said his team is right where they “need to be.”

“If we show up, we can take a good crew to regionals,” Rasmussen said. ‘The kids have put in the time and worked hard all season.”

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].