TACOMA — In the span of two hours, Ammon Combs was staring at the real possibility of missing a trip to Tacoma.
The Black Hills High School wrestler went from being in the semifinals at the Class 2A EvCo Championships to standing on the fourth place podium spot in his gymnasium. His season would come down to six more minutes.
“I want it more and that’s what pushed me to get it,” Combs said. “That match really clarified that I’m here, I want to place, I want to do better than I did last year.”
It proved to be the fuel Combs needed.
The senior won a wild crossover match last Tuesday and through Day 1 of Mat Classic XXXVI at 165-pounds, Combs is sitting one victory away from guaranteeing back-to-back state medals inside the Tacoma Dome.
He’s one of five Wolves that wrestled at least a match and will open Saturday morning in the quarterfinals. They sit ninth overall in the 2A team race with 45.5 points.
“The last match was tighter than I wanted, but we made it. I was getting nervous,” Combs said.
Combs needed a rally in the crossover dual against Hockinson’s Leniel Sutton and got the match-sealing takedown with 51 seconds left. He needed an equal-sized rally in Friday’s second round.
Trailing 6-0 in the waning moments of the second period, Combs got out from bottom, took a shot and finished a takedown to trail by two with a period to go. He chose bottom, scored an escape and takedown to secure the triumph 8-6 over North Kitsap’s Luan Bekteshi.
Black Hills head coach Jason Dick jumped up and down with excitement.
“Pretty much all the seniors, everyone pushed each other to get better,” Combs said. “We lift each other up. We’re looking (out) for each other’s backs.”
W.F. West also advanced five to the quarters, but more bonus points as it slotted in sixth in the team race at 53.5 points. Orting and Toppenish have already eclipsed triple figures with a full session to go.
Kallon Homan rode out Fife’s Cashious Koerth in the third period to notch a 1-0 victory in the second round. The EvCo champ at 175 escaped five seconds into the second stanza.
The other four quarterfinalists each recorded two bonus point victories.
“Be nice to have a little more of a cushion,” Bearcats head coach Jamie Rakevich said of Homan’s win. “We’ll take it. It is better than the other option.”
Tumwater’s Alex Concepcion (132) and Mehki Richardson (157) plus Centralia’s Ronin Blair (215) all won twice. Richardson notched two pins in under 45 seconds each while Blair was on the mat less than 90 seconds combined.
Hernandez hits milestone victory
One of the favorites to have his arm raised on Saturday night, Napavine junior Peyton Hernandez picked up his 100th career win with a 3 minute, 26 second fall in the second round over Granger’s Jason Booker at 126-pounds in the Class 1B/2B bracket.
His dad, Damian Hernandez, waltzed over with a poster. Near the intersection of mats where the state championship matches will be held, Peyton posed for photos.
“It was really cool looking at the fans and my mom in the crowd,” Peyton Hernandez said. “To get it here is really special.”
Third place as a sophomore, Hernandez is attempting to be the first Tiger to ever win a state wrestling championship. Sophomore Tommy Deebach (165) joins Hernandez being a victory away from guaranteeing a place on the medal stand.
“That is all I want,” Hernandaz said of a state title. “Now I get to prove that I deserve it.”
Toledo sent a classification-best three to the quarters while Pe Ell and Rainier each advanced two. Mossyrock’s Kyle Brockway moved on at 190.
Knox wins first two career matches at Mat Classic
Tenino senior Koy Knox went 0-2 in his last two trips to the Tacoma Dome, but pulled a complete reversal in his senior season and will wrestle in his first ever Class 1A state quarterfinal.
He upended district foe Braden Swihart of Castle Rock 7-4 in the second round. It was the third meeting this season – the first two were a split – but Knox remained confident in his abilities.
“After last year, I hit the offseason hard,” Knox admitted. “A lot of confidence. Just trying to carry that into this tournament; put my best foot forward.”
Knox struck first and Swihart countered. Down 4-3, the Beavers’ 165-pounder got out from bottom and shot a low-single that he finished to prevail. Now, Knox gets one of the toughest wrestlers in his weight class, Montesano’s Gage Stutesman.
Still, Knox is far from afraid.
“He’s a great wrestler,” he said. “I’m excited to get another shot at him.”
