Local girls wrestling teams had plenty of success at Hudson’s Bay on Saturday, as Black Hills, W.F. West, and Centralia placed second, third, and fourth at the 2A District 4 Girls Wrestling Tournament.
The Tumwater girls were also in action, placing eighth.
Black Hills finished second with 208 team points, and the Wolves are sending a dozen wrestlers to Mat Classic XXXVI.
Their 12 state qualifiers include: Sloane Kruger (100, first place), Isabella Steinebach (155, first place), Madeline Payne (170, first place), Bella Chernard (190, second place), Nancy Nguyen (115, fourth place), Anneliese Dale (120, fourth place), Elliana Doney (130, fourth place), Marlie Voorhies (145, fourth place), Wren Neklason (130, fifth place), Sierra Houseman (125, sixth place), Lizzy Grunenfelder (140, sixth place), and Monica Elliott (110, seventh place).
Eden Combs (135) and Madi Steinebach (145) finished eighth to earn alternate spots.
Kruger improved to 45-0 on the season with a quick fall in just 26 seconds in the semis before winning by decision in the district title match.
Isabella Steinebach pinned all three of her opponents at 155 to win the district title, and Payne won via pin in the semis before a thrilling 15-14 win by decision in the district championship bout.
Chernard’s run to the finals at 190 included a 41-second pin in the quarterfinals and a third-round pin in the semis.
“I am super proud of these girls,” Coach Steve Kruger said. “They have put in a lot of work this season, and it’s great to see that work pay off. We’ve come a long way in four years, from a team of three to taking 12 to state. I am looking forward to seeing them compete at state.”
For the Bearcats, Kaylee Lehman (130), Emily Mallonee (135), and Lucy Hornby (110) all earned district championships, while Aurora Martin (125) earned a runner-up finish. Eden Hornby (120) and Berkeley Varick (115) placed third, as did freshman Linden Varick (110).
Yasmine Azcunaga (170) placed fourth, and Natalia Martinez (125) and Georgia Mills (105) both placed fifth. All nine of those girls will represent W.F. West at Mat Classic next weekend.
“I am very proud of all our girls,” W.F. West coach Matt Patana said. “I am excited to see what they can do.”
Centralia will also be sending several wrestlers to state, including Luna Martinez-Arevalo, who placed second at 100.
Jocelyn Navarro (100), Arisbeth Rojas-Ramirez (105), and Jayden Krogness (130) each finished third, while Jazmin Castorena (105) and Sophia Hoyas (110) placed fourth.
Braylee Blankenship (120), Autumn Weinke (155), and Milagros Medina-Becerril (235) each placed fifth, Ramona Reinitz (120) placed sixth, and Lua Hudson (115) finished seventh.
Tumwater’s Reagan Humphries earned a district title at 190, while Caroline Coty finished as the runner-up at 235.
Megan Magill (170) placed fifth, Sayde Machado (100) and Vera Pope (135) placed sixth, and Trinity Stricklett (145) placed seventh.
Mat Classic XXXVI is set for Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, at the Tacoma Dome.
