Blackhawk, Lancer girls struggle
TACOMA — The best area girls could muster was a single win at the state Mat Classic XXXV wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 16 and 17.
Cheney Blackhawks Jennifer Tian and Jalisca Holmgren qualified in the girls 3A/4A division, and Liberty’s Kariyah Strobel qualified in the small school (1B-2A) division.
This was the second state tournament for both Holmgren and Strobel.
All three girls made it to the third round of the tournament, but were eliminated before reaching a medal match.
Tian, wrestling at 110 pounds, was pinned by Kinsey White of Puyallup in 5:39 in her state-opener. She then received a bye in the wrestlebacks before being eliminated by Sandy Gayed of Auburn Mountainview, who won by a 3-1 decision.
Wrestling at 125, Holmgren was pinned by Kaycee Potts of Kelso in 2:53 in her opener. She too, received a bye in the wrestlebacks before being pinned by Kylie Michalke of Peninsula in 2:43.
For the Lancers, Strobel opened the tournament by pinning Sadie Wilson of Squalicum in a 140-pound bout to reach the quarterfinals.
There, she was pinned by Aliyha Vargas of Washougal in 3:26, sending her to the wrestlebacks, where she was eliminated by Regen Minnis of Stevenson, who pinned her in 44 seconds.
Medical Lake’s Lyla Heinemann was an alternate to state and didn’t get to compete.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, columnist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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