The Omak Pioneers traveled to Quincy for the WIAA Region 4 Wrestling Tournament. Region 4 is comprised of the CTL and NEA district teams: Cascade, Cashmere, Chelan, Quincy, Medical Lake, Colville, Deer Park, Newport, Freeman, Riverside, Lakeside, and Omak. The Deer Park Staggs were the regional champions. Omak took 5th as a team. The top three wrestlers moved on to the state tournament this weekend in the Tacoma Dome. Omak had three regional champions: Darrell Nanpuya, 138; Xavier Cardona, 215; and Noah Morago-Bigboy, 285. Jessie Garcia also advanced to state with a third-place finish at 144 pounds. The younger Garcia brother, Diego, re-injured his ankle but was able to secure an alternate position at 150 pounds. Diego finished 4th place. Juan Duran, 165, put up some team points with a 6th-place finish. Ryder Abrahamson (132), Bryar Jensen (138), Jack Nourse (144), and Makya Matt (126) were unable to put up any team points at regionals. Makya spent the week sick and was not attending the tournament. The boys will roll into the state tournament with some great chances at making the finals and achieving their goals of being state champions. Regional was a great experience for the team. Some of the younger athletes see what it takes to get through to the next level of competition.
We leave on Thursday, February 15, for state at 10 AM after a Walk of Honor at the high school.
On a side, it's not about the girls. Omak Lady Pioneers finished 1st in the region with 3 wrestlers moving on to state competition. Kiona Michel, 235, was the lone champion for the team as she beat the defending state champ and arch-rival Madison Pillars from Newport. Kiona had a dominant performance in the finals, where she pinned the champ with an armbar after scoring on a snap down. Bella Chapa was a finalist but lost to the defending state champ from Royal. Jurney Cate, 155, took third place and will also advance to state. The girls had 4 alternates: Lahalee Michel, 115; Kinsey Christoph, 135; Leandra Agee, 145; and Bobbi Jo Dick, 155. Val Hammer is a second alternate at 105. It was a great season for others who did not advance.
1 Deer Park 195.5
2 Newport 133.0
3 Riverside 130.0
4 Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls) 113.5
5 Omak 111.5
6 Freeman 110.0
7 Cashmere 100.0
8 Cascade (Leavenworth) 94.0
9 Colville 77.0
10 Quincy 66.0
11 Medical Lake 53.0
12 Chelan 47.0
126
Makya Matt (0-0) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
132
Ryder Abrahamson (2-3) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Logan Ottack (Colville) 6-2 won by fall over Ryder Abrahamson (Omak) 2-3 (Fall 3:13)
- Cons. Round 1 - Markis Teeples (Newport) 20-19 won by decision over Ryder Abrahamson (Omak) 2-3 (Dec 10-7)
138
Darrell Nanpuya (6-0) placed 1st and scored 25.5 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Darrell Nanpuya (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Parker Warren (Newport) 20-16 (Fall 0:46)
- Semifinal - Darrell Nanpuya (Omak) 6-0 won by tech fall over Ben Orth (Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)) 5-2 (TF-1.5 3:13 (18-3))
- 1st Place Match - Darrell Nanpuya (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Chase Smith (Freeman) 38-6 (Fall 4:41)
138
Bryar Jensen (2-3) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Ben Orth (Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)) 5-2 won by tech fall over Bryar Jensen (Omak) 2-3 (TF-1.5 5:32 (18-2))
- Cons. Round 1 - Parker Warren (Newport) 20-16 won by fall over Bryar Jensen (Omak) 2-3 (Fall 0:19)
144
Jessie Garcia (6-1) placed 3rd and scored 18.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Jessie Garcia (Omak) 6-1 won by fall over Lincoln Wright (Freeman) 17-16 (Fall 2:42)
- Semifinal - Brock Berger (Deer Park) 27-14 won by fall over Jessie Garcia (Omak) 6-1 (Fall 4:52)
- Cons. Semi - Jessie Garcia (Omak) 6-1 won by fall over Rowan Fortier-Minnier (Colville) 4-4 (Fall 1:51)
- 3rd Place Match - Jessie Garcia (Omak) 6-1 won by fall over Lincoln Wright (Freeman) 17-16 (Fall 1:49)
144
Jack Nourse (3-3) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Brock Berger (Deer Park) 27-14 won by fall over Jack Nourse (Omak) 3-3 (Fall 2:38)
- Cons. Round 1 - Lincoln Wright (Freeman) 17-16 won by fall over Jack Nourse (Omak) 3-3 (Fall 1:41)
150
Diego Garcia (6-2) placed 4th and scored 10.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Diego Garcia (Omak) 6-2 won by decision over Theron Daily (Deer Park) 6-6 (Dec 6-2)
- Semifinal - Brooks Proctor (Riverside) 26-7 won by fall over Diego Garcia (Omak) 6-2 (Fall 0:53)
- Cons. Semi - Diego Garcia (Omak) 6-2 won by decision over Ronald Hooten (Chelan) 4-4 (Dec 8-3)
- 3rd Place Match - Blake Berger (Deer Park) 22-18 won by fall over Diego Garcia (Omak) 6-2 (Fall 1:51)
165
Juan Duran (3-4) placed 6th and scored 6.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Bryce Scarpelli (Riverside) 29-8 won by fall over Juan Duran (Omak) 3-4 (Fall 3:33)
- Cons. Round 1 - Juan Duran (Omak) 3-4 won by fall over Enrique Rebollo (Quincy) 0-3 (Fall 6:00)
- Cons. Semi - Will McDaniel (Newport) 21-19 won by fall over Juan Duran (Omak) 3-4 (Fall 0:40)
- 5th Place Match - Zimri Kelling (Chelan) 5-2 won in sudden victory - 1 over Juan Duran (Omak) 3-4 (SV-1 6-4)
215
Xavier Cardona (6-0) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Xavier Cardona (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Taigen Mitcham (Newport) 27-14 (Fall 1:51)
- Semifinal - Xavier Cardona (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over True Cole (Medical Lake) 10-3 (Fall 1:53)
- 1st Place Match - Xavier Cardona (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Liam Hamilton (Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)) 4-1 (Fall 0:58)
285
Noah Morago-Bigboy (6-0) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal - Noah Morago-Bigboy (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Jacob Schuch (Riverside) 8-15 (Fall 1:09)
- Semifinal - Noah Morago-Bigboy (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Solomon Slind (Deer Park) 11-9 (Fall 0:13)
- 1st Place Match - Noah Morago-Bigboy (Omak) 6-0 won by fall over Hezekiah Slind (Deer Park) 25-14 (Fall 1:51)