Prep Wrestling -- Moses Lake Trips Auburn For Title

KIRKLAND - The wrestling mid-term results are in, with Moses Lake and Auburn earning the state's top marks. Moses Lake won the 16-team Juanita Invitational Tournament yesterday with 205 points, narrowingly defeating Auburn, which scored 189.

"We're thrilled just to be close," said Auburn Coach Scott Bliss. "This is important for us, because it shows we're getting closer to Moses Lake."

Auburn is the defending Class AAA state champion, but Moses Lake is top-ranked this season. Moses Lakes defeated Auburn 42-20 in a dual meet earlier this season. Moses Lake also won the 32-team Tri-State Tournament in Idaho last month. Auburn was fourth in that meet.

Performances in the meet's final round determined the champion. Both schools had representatives in five of the meet's 13 weight divisions but there were no head-to-head matchup between the schools.

Strengths in the middle weight divisions made the difference for Moses Lake. Rees Chlarson gained six crucial points by defeating Inglemoor's Kevin McDaniel in the 135-pound division.

"I just went all out, hoping I could get an extra point," said Chlarson. "I didn't feel pressure form the coaches, I just felt pressure from myself." Chlarson, a junior who set a Moses Lake record with 29 pins last season, was leading 12-1 with 25 seconds remaining when McDaniel had to default with an injury.

"We had to get a pin out of (Chlarson) to win in Idaho," said Moses Lake Coach Ron Seidel. "We needed him to get some extra points here. He capped it and kept the pressure off of Jerry Shotts."

Shotts pinned Monroe's Brandon Springer just 1:24 into the 148-pound final. Moses Lake also scored second-place finishes at 101 (Tony Vehrs) and 115 (Donny Anderson). Jaime DeLeon capped Moses Lake's crown with a championhip in the heavyweight.

Auburn's titlists included Justin Bowen (168) and Brian Criddle (190). Second-place finishers were Jesse Cross (122), River Coffey (178) and Greg DeBolt (158).

Team scores - Moses Lake 205, Auburn 189, Olympic 148, Inglemoor 136, Burlington-Edison 133, Everett 130 1/2, Monroe 116, Kentwood 103, Highline 63, Kamiakin 57 1/2, Juanita 55, Redmond 53, Issaquah 49 1/2, Eastlake 46, Mariner 34 1/2, Interlake 24. Championship finals

101 - Craig Johnson, Olympic, dec. Tony Vehrs, Moses Lake, 7-3. 108 - Scott Thompson, Juanita, tech. fall over Dan Boland, Everett, 16-0. 115 - Andy Cook, Burlington, dec. Donny Anderson, Moses Lake, 7-4. 122 - Todd Urrutia, Olympic, dec. Jesse Cross, Auburn, 9-3. 129 - Eric Smith, Burlington, dec. Chad Keller, Inglemoor, 3-2. 135 - Rees Chlarson, Moses Lake, won by injury default Kevin McDaniel, Inglemoor. 141 - Ty Smith, Olympic, pinned Justin Springer, Monroe, 3:32. 148 - Jerry Shotts, Moses Lake, pinned Brandon Springer, Monroe, 1:24. 158 - Otto Olson, Everett, dec. Greg DeBolt, Auburn, 16-8. 168 - Justin Bowen, Auburn, dec. Mike Hamblet, Olympic, 3-0. 178 - Roland Sanchez, Burlington, dec. River Coffey, Auburn, 4-1. 190 - Brian Criddle, Auburn, dec. Curt Armstrong, Inglemoor, 6-2. Hvy - Jaime DeLeon, Moses Lake, dec. Kevin Luxmore, Everett, 7-3. Consolation finals

101 - Kip Hauser, Issaquah, dec. Justin Pendergrast, Burlington, 6-2. 108 - Chris Sainsbury, Moses Lake, dec. Dustin Robinette, Burlington, 12-6. 115 - Jordan Ottow, Monroe, dec. Matt Miskowski, Olympic, 11-2. 122 - Brian Graddon, Redmond, pinned Teak Byron, Everett, third round. 129 - Eli Zamora, Moses Lake, dec. Zak Hazrat, Kentwood, 7-2. 135 - Russ Halsey, Auburn, dec. Tom Kang, Issaquah, 4-2. 141 - J.D. Brosius, Everett, dec. Dan McIlraith, Burlington, 14-7. 148 - John Anderson, Kentwood, dec. David Richardson, Olympic, 8-7. 158 - Jared Post, Moses Lake, injury default over Jim Yourkoski, Interlake. 168 - Mike Martinsen, Inglemoor, dec. Nate Rantala, Highline, 3-2. 178 - Dan Stark, Highline, won by injury default over Ken Anderson, Kentwood. 190 - Tunnell Chocklon, Kentwood, dec. Dan Avery, Kamiakin, 8-2. Hvy - Mike Mondt, Auburn, dec. Jason Woods, Kamiakin, 4-2.