Grays Harbor College wrestlers win fair share of conference championships

By Ryan Sparks The Daily World • March 8, 2022 1:30 am
The Grays Harbor College wrestling team poses for a photo at the conclusion of the NCWA Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday at Aberdeen High School. Ryan Sparks I The Daily World
The Grays Harbor College wrestling team poses for a photo at the conclusion of the NCWA Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday at Aberdeen High School. Ryan Sparks I The Daily World

The Grays Harbor College men’s and women’s wrestling programs had plenty to celebrate after collecting 12 individual championships and a team title at the National Collegiate Wrestling Association’s Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Aberdeen High School.

The Chokers men’s team scored 236 points to secure the team title, besting second-place Washington State University by 73 points.

Big Bend Community College (97 points) placed third followed by University of Oregon (55.5) and the University of Washington (53) rounding out the top five.

Eight GHC wrestlers took home conference championships by winning their respective individual weight classes. Donnie Krissak (125 pounds), Saul Rocha (141 pounds), Elijah Gandert (149 pounds), Vincent Jacinto (157 pounds), Karter Kares (165 pounds), Desmond Bowers (184 pounds), Sione Halo (197 pounds) and Octavio Alejandre (235 pounds) each won individual titles for GHC.

Five Chokers placed second in the men’s competition with Colton Duncan (149 pounds), Kyle Yazzie (165 pounds), Ryan Cummings (174 pounds), Lucus Ashley (235 pounds) and William Christman (285 pounds) each earning conference runner-up honors.

In the women’s competition, GHC placed second overall with 135 points.

Big Bend took the conference championship with 187.5 points.

Washington State placed third with 34 points, followed by Washington (22 points) and Linfield University (18 points).

Four GHC women’s wrestlers won conference titles. Dallas Gomez (123 pounds), Tatum Pine (130 pounds), Grace Miller (136 pounds) and Jocelyn Fierro (143 pounds) each won championships in their respective weight class for the Chokers.

Grays Harbor’s Andrea Jones (155 pounds) and Reneah Ureste (191 pounds) each placed second.

“It was a great day of wrestling,” GHC head coach Kevin Pine said. “It was a very solid tournament for us. Now we have another 10 days to make some minor adjustments, tighten up our technique and get ready for nationals.”

GHC is scheduled to compete in the NCWA National Championships beginning Thursday, March 10, in Allen, Texas.

For full meet results, visit arena.flowrestling.org/event/3dc3f982-42da-932f-fadd-c4842bb86367.