Wrestling / 4A Region I -- Kingco Qualifies 30, Wesco 26 For State Meet

REDMOND - The KingCo Conference will send 30 wrestlers and the Western Conference 26 to the Class 4A state wrestling meet.

The state berths were up for grabs at last night's Class 4A Region I meet, which was held at Eastlake High School and featured nearly 120 wrestlers from 15 schools from King and Snohomish counties battling for 56 entries to Mat Classic XI.

The top four wrestlers in each weight class qualified for state, which is next Friday and Saturday at the Tacoma Dome. Eastlake and Lake Washington high schools advanced the most wrestlers to state with seven apiece. Juanita will send six wrestlers, and Bothell, Snohomish, Sehome and Kamiak each will send five grapplers.

Although final team standings and individual champions weren't decided until late last night, Lake Washington had an early edge. The Kangaroos qualified a meet-high five wrestlers - seniors Luke Pitman, Nathan Groth and David Boothe, and juniors Adam Wheeler and Jabari Sykes - to the championship round.

Sixteen KingCo wrestlers made it to the finals; 12 from WesCo qualified.

KingCo wrestlers earning their second straight trip to state were Juanita juniors Michael Sato and Eric Bruggeman and Inglemoor senior Brad Boyle. Eastlake senior Andre Pedeferri, who competed at state as a sophomore but was sidelined with a shoulder injury last season, also earned a return trip.

Bruggeman placed third at 108 pounds with a 3:30 pin. Pedeferri was third at 129 with an 8-2 decision.

Nine WesCo wrestlers will be making at least their second straight state appearance. The meet's only defending state champion, Ravil Muhamediev of Sehome, headlined the group, which included Chris Larson of Cascade (Everett), Jerry Matson of Kamiak, Israel Silva of Marysville-Pilchuck, Floyd Bangerter of Mountlake Terrace, Dave Farmer of Oak Harbor, Robbie Songstad of Snohomish and Sehome's Nick Abbott and Doug Swanson.

CLASS 4A REGION I MEET At Eastlake H.S. (Top four individuals to state) Championship pairings 101 - Paul Ciccu, Bothell, vs. Jay Erickson, Bothell. 108 - Michael Sato, Juanita, vs. Robbie Sonstad, Snohomish. 115 - Floyd Bangerter, Mountlake Terrace, vs. Chris Larson, Cascade. 122 - Andy Aichele, Snohomish, vs. Nick Abbott, Sehome. 129 - Ricky Nelson, Juanita, vs. Luke Pitman, Lake Washington. 135 - Brad Boyle, Inglemoor, vs. Adam Dempsey, Snohomish. 141 - Adam Wheeler, Lake Washington, vs. Ravil Muhamediev, Sehome. 148 - David Boothe, Lake Washington, vs. Doug Swanson, Sehome. 158 - Justin Corbett, Juanita, vs. Jared Erickson, Cascade. 168 - Jesse Smith, Eastlake, vs. Nathan Groth, Lake Washington. 178 - Brandon Lake, Eastlake, vs. Jerry Matson, Kamiak. 190 - Jabari Sykes, Lake Washington, vs. Marcos Bolanos, Cascade. 215 - Michael Seekins, Juanita, vs. Ben Poort, Redmond. Hvy - Kevin Ibanez, Eastlake, vs. Israel Silva, Marysville-Pilchuck.

3rd-4th finals 101 - Tan Le, Kamiak, dec. Adam McGrath, Juanita, 4-0. 108 - Eric Bruggeman, Juanita, pinned Jim Martin, Bothell, 3:30. 115 - Justin Egge, Inglemoor, dec. Danny Wichers, Oak Harbor, 2-0. 122 - Peter Puccio, Eastlake, dec. Chue Cha, Lake Washington, 4-1. 129 - Andre Pedeferri, Eastlake, dec. Sean Winters, Marysville-Pilchuck, 8-2. 135 - Mike Gustafson, Lake Washingon, dec. Cole VanLeuven, Kamiak, 7-1. 141 - Brian Lang, Oak Harbor, dec. Craig VanLeuven, Kamiak, 7-5. 148 - Thomas Metge, Mountlake Terrace, dec. Nck Rossman, Woodinville, 9-4 (OT). 158 - Eric Jordon, Kamiak, dec. Dave Farmer, Oak Harbor, 4-2. 168 - Andy Tsiorvas, Sehome, dec. Brent Lang, Oak Harbor, 6-2. 178 - Trent Smith, Sehome, dec. Barry Landis, Bothell, 8-2. 190 - Justin Wilkins, Eastlake, won by injury default over Mitch Ewing, Eastlake. 215 - Ed Cook, Snohomish, won by injury default over Rob White, Inglemoor. Hvy - Jamison Hyatt, Bothell, dec. Otis Sundheim, Snohomish, 6-0.