WRESTLING | Five South Kitsap wrestlers qualify for Mat Classic XXV

SNOHOMISH — His right eye was black, the bulge surrounding it growing before the championship round.

But for South Kitsap senior Adam Gascoyne, it was nothing more than a little pimple.

Not an obstacle toward winning a Class 4A Region 1 Tournament title and advancing to state for the first time. And Gascoyne did just that as he defeated Snohomish’s Tanner Perry 7-2 in the 152-pound weight class Saturday at Snohomish High School.

“He’s always been close,” South coach Chad Nass said. “It’s just been a matter of putting it together for a full day.”

Gascoyne said he was injured when Snohomish’s Jacob Proffit head butted him during the semifinals, which he won 8-2.

“A little war wounds is fine with me,” he said.

Gascoyne was the Wolves’ lone champion at regionals. Seniors Bryce Broome and Damien Medeiros both finished second after losing in the finals against a pair of Lake Stevens’ wrestlers. Broome lost a 7-1 decision against Cody Vigoren at 170, while Medeiros suffered a 5-3 setback versus Brandon Johnson. Medeiros previously lost 6-4 against Johnson in overtime last month at Matman Classic in Silverdale.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if we see that heavyweight as the state final,” Nass said. “We’re close. We’ve just got to get over the hump with that kid [Johnson]. He’s beat us twice now.”

The top four placers at regionals advance to next week’s Mat Classic XXV at Tacoma Dome. Five South competitors qualified for state, including seniors Ben de Lacy (145) and Michael Beard (182).

De Lacy took a unique route toward his first state berth. He was winning in the consolation round when Cascade’s Juan Garcia was disqualified for an illegal hit to the head. De Lacy then forfeited the opportunity to contend for third place against Mariner’s Andrew Villalobos as his parents took him to the hospital. Nass said called that a “precautionary” measure.

“Hopefully Ben will be healthy by next week,” he said.

Beard placed third when he pinned Arlington’s Jake Ferro in 2:56 minutes. This also will be his first state appearance.

Medeiros, who placed eighth at 285 last year at state, and Broome are the only wrestlers among the quintet that advanced in 2012 to Tacoma. Medeiros became the first alternate in program history to place at state. Adam Lutovsky (138) and Sam Skinner (160) will serve as alternates this season.

The Wolves sent more wrestlers to Tacoma in the past, but this is the first year they competed against Lake Stevens, one of the state’s top programs, at regionals.

“It was a really tough regional tournament,” said Nass, whose team finished fourth among 18 schools with 109 points. “Our kids wrestled hard against tough competition.”

• South’s Amberlee Brasch pinned teammate Caeleenda Johnson to take first place at 130 pounds at Saturday’s girls regional tournament at Auburn High School. Johnson beat Brasch at sub-regionals. Both advance to state.

Team scores-Lake Stevens 284.5, Yelm 182.5, Snohomish 117, South Kitsap 109, Edmonds-Woodway 90, Cascade 82, Olympia 62.5, Arlington 61.5, Bellarmine Prep 40, Mount Vernon 40, Lynnwood 32, Kamiak 21, Central Kitsap 20, Mariner 16, Jackson 6, Monroe 4, Gig Harbor 0, Stadium 0.

Championship106-Michael Soler (LS) d. AJ Crew (LS) 6-1. 113-Noah Cuzzetto (EW) d. Darren Harris (Y) 6-5. 120-Jake Douglas (LS) d. Warren Sprecher (CK) 6-2. 126-Gino Obregon (Cas) p. Brian Rochester (Y) :59. 132-Nathan Vulliet (EW) d. Bryce Thomas 4-0. 138-Jesse Peterson (LS) md. Dillon Harris (Y) 14-3. 145-Eric Soler (LS) p. Noah Johnson (Cas) 3:26. 152-Adam Gascoyne (SK) d. Tanner Perry (Sno) 7-2. 160-Anthony Allred (Y) p. Logan Johnson (LS) 2:39. 170-Cody Vigoren (LS) d. Bryce Broome (SK) 7-1. 182-Taylor Ladenburg (BP) d. Josh Newbill (Oly) 4-2. 195-Tanner Hartsoch (Oly) d. Tristan Baus (Sno) 8-6. 220-Shaq Reed (LS) p. Alex Fairhurst (Sno) 3:15. 285-Brandon Johnson (LS) d. Damien Medeiros (SK) 5-3.

Third/fourth106-Jeremy Nygard (Arl.) d. Wyatt Butler (Sno) 11-4. 113-Alex Rodrigo (LS) d. Ruben Crew (LS) 6-2. 120-Luis Reyna (MV) d. Victor Munoz (Y) 8-5. 126-Wyatt Bell (LS) d. Wyatt Larson (Cas) 11-4. 132-Rafael Ibarra (MV) md. Logan Pine (Oly) 14-6. 138-Greg Eagle (Sno) p. Conner Gonzales (Arl) :28. 145-Andrew Villalobos (Mar.) inj. def Ben de Lacy (SK). 152-Brandon Rochester (Y) d. James Rodeman (Y) 7-2. 160-Blake Sander (LS) inj. def. Hunter Lord (Lyn). 170-Marq Brown (EW) d. Tyler Webley (Kam.) 4-2. 182-Michael Beard (SK) p. Jake Ferro (Arl) 2:56. 195-Jeffery Leuth (Y) p. Anthony Thees (LS) 1:57. 220-Manuel Vasquez (Lyn) d. Elliott Villars (BP) 5-2. 285-George Johanson (EW) p. Tristan Glaser (Y) 3:36.

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff Writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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