The Ocosta Wildcat wrestling team traveled to Wahkiakum High School in Cathlamet on Saturday, Dec. 19 to compete in the 2015 Wahkiakum Downriver Challenge. Ocosta finished second in the sixteen-team field and had five medal winners, including two champions.
Five Wildcats made it to the championship finals, scoring 125 team points, to finish in second place behind Kelso and eleven points ahead of rival Willapa Harbor. Other Pacific League schools at the tournament included Adna, North Beach, Napavine, Wahkiakum and Chief Leschi.
Champions
Seniors Cole Rutzer and Daniel Helman were the two individual champions for the Cats. Rutzer dominated the 113lb weight class, with a 13-0 major decision and two pins. His last pin came :42 in the championship finals against Nolan Hart of Kelso.
Helman was equally strong on the day, pinning his first opponent, winning his second match with a 10-3 decision and finishing the day with a pin in the finals over Anthony Ramirez of Neah-Kah-Nei High School.
Second place
Second place finishers, all juniors, were Kaleb Orton at 120lbs, Matthew Hart at 145lbs and Kalvyn Scott at 170lbs.
Also wrestling at Wahkiakum for the Cats were freshmen Daniel Quinby (113) and Tucker Deranleau (220); sophomores Gabe Elder( 152) and Hayden Hoff (195); juniors Sam Quinby (132) and Cosmo Silver (145) and seniors Dylan Furford (138) and Byron Hongell (220).
Upcoming Outings
On Saturday, Jan. 2, Ocosta travels to North Beach High School in Ocean Shores to wrestle in the 2016 Bash at the Beach. Wrestling begins at 10 a.m.