TACOMA — Port Angeles standout wrestler Nathan Cristion got his revenge at the Class 2A regional championships by capturing first place.
The senior, now 39-2, took second in sub-regionals last weekend at Port Angeles High School when he lost the 189-pound championship match to Kingston’s Freddy Rodolf, the only competitor to beat Cristion this year.
But Cristion turned the tables at regionals at Franklin Pierce High School, claiming the regional championship.
The Roughriders, who took seventh place with 76 points, will send three to state.
That was not the top number from the North Olympic Peninsula, however, with the Sequim Wolves qualifying four for state.
In total, 10 athletes from the Peninsula will move on to Mat Classic XXIII next weekend in the Tacoma Dome.
That includes two regional champions in Cristion and 119-pounder Cutter Grahn of Forks.
Three other Riders
Besides Cristion for Port Angeles, Andrew Symonds took fourth place at 140 and Trevor Lee earned fourth at 160 to reach state.
In addition, Daniel Jenkins is a state alternate after taking fifth place at 285. The top four advance to state.
Placing at regionals for Port Angeles in sixth place were Josh Basden at 103, Ozzy Swaggerty at 112, Zach Grall at 189 and Brian Cristion at 171.
Port Angeles coach Erik Gonzalez was also voted the West Central District 2A coach of the year.
His Riders were seventh out of 15 teams at the 2A regional with 76 points.
White River was first (188.5), followed by Olympic League schools Klahowya (162), North Mason (107) and Kingston (102.5).
Sequim sends 4
TACOMA — The Wolves went from sending no one to state last year to sending four out of their six wrestlers at the 2A regional championships at Franklin Pierce High School on Saturday.
“I was hoping to get two to state, but we got four through and that’s pretty good,” Sequim coach Len Borchers said.
Five of the six regional wrestlers placed, and the Wolves earned 10th place in the team standings with 56 points.
Leading the Wolves with third-place finishes were Austin Middleton at 130 pounds and Emilio Perete-Colin at 215.
Middleton lost his first match and then won three straight in the consolation bracket to earn the state berth.
Capturing fourth place and earning state berths were Derek Fruin at 135 and Dakota Hinton at 171.
This is the first time at state for all four wrestlers.
Also placing at regionals was Clay Charlie at 285 while Cody Field participated at regionals at 145.
Forks sends three
CASTLE ROCK — The Spartans will have three wrestlers at the 1A state tournament next weekend, including two state veterans.
Cutter Grahn, who captured sixth place at state last year, won the 119-pound regional title.
The junior was the only winner for Forks at regionals.
The top five in each weight class advanced to state this year.
Senior Tyler Cortani claimed third place at 125 and will try to improve on his eighth-place state finish as a sophomore. He did not place at state as a junior because of an illness.
Also going to state is senior Nick Atkins, who took fifth at 145, probably the toughest weight at regionals.
“He had the No. 1 and No. 2 wrestlers in state at his weight, plus there were a couple of other good wrestlers,” Forks coach Bob Wheeler said.
State alternates by taking sixth place were jake Claussen at 215 and Sebastian Barragan at 119.
Wheeler was named the regional coach of the year.
PT shut out
BELLEVUE — The Redskins had a rough regional tournament with no one earning a state berth.
Justin Mead claimed fourth place at 119 pounds to be a state alternate.
Port Townsend scored 18 points in the Class 1A regional at Bellevue Christian High School while Chimacum scored three points.