When it comes to high school wrestling, plenty can change in a year.
But as the Pacific Coast Championships showed on Friday at Mountain View, some things remain the same.
Union still has the deepest stable of wrestlers in Clark County. Five Titans reached the finals as Union repeated as champion of a tournament that gathered 30 teams from Washington and Oregon.
Ethan Rotondo is still unbeatable. The Union senior, who hasn’t lost a match since his sophomore year, was one of three local champions Friday.
Union’s J.J. Talavera and Skyview’s Jackson McKinney also won their weight classes at the two-day tournament.
Rotondo improved to 18-0 this season by beating Isaac Lopez of Burlington-Edison in the 113-pound final. His defense was flawless in a 5-0 win over the state’s top-ranked Class 2A wrestler.
“It’s really important because I haven’t seen too many tough guys yet,” said Rotondo, who recently committed to wrestle at Boise State.
Talavera kept his composure in a tense 152-pound final. The senior improved to 20-0 this season by beating W.F. West’s Michael Anderson 4-3, the decisive point coming on an escape early in the third round.
“The goal is placing at state, but on top of that is winning state,” said Talavera, who placed eighth in state last year. “So right now, that’s what my goal is. I’m training to be a state champ.”
Union’s Noah Talavera (126 pounds), Danny Snediker (145) and Tommy Strassenberg (160) were also finalists.
That helped Union win the tournament for the third time since 2011 with 203 points, 4.5 ahead of South Kitsap. Camas was third with 158.5 points.
For Union, it’s not too early to think about chasing a team title at the Mat Classic state championship.
“The thing with Union’s team this year is we have so many tough guys individually,” Rotondo said. “If we can get through these tournaments successfully, there’s no doubt we can compete at state.”
Last year, McKinney of Skyview went to Mat Classic as an alternate, but didn’t wrestle. This year, the junior doesn’t just want to reach Mat Classic, but place.
Friday, he beat a state qualifier in Sam Malychewski of Camas in the 182-pound final 5-4. In protecting that narrow lead through the final round, McKinney showed there’s more to wrestling than brute strength.
“Last year I was just a strong kid who would attack you,” McKinney said. “Now I actually have an offense and a setup. Now I’m a smart wrester, not just a bull-headed one.”
Malychewski was one of two finalists for Camas. Dylan Ingram reached the final at 220 pounds.
Pacific Coast Championships
At Mountain View High School
Top three teams – Union 203, South Kitsap 198.5, Camas 158.
106 – First place: Jacob Bennett (Lake Stevens) def. Andy Pimentel (Selah) 6-1; Third place: Jonathan Zuriaga (Canby) p. Ben Harvey (Clackamas) 1:53.
113 – First place: Ethan Rotondo (Union) def. Issac Lopez (Burlington-Edison) 5-0; Third place: Jace Cooper (Squalicum) def. Chase Poston (Olympia) 13-6.
120 – First place: Nick Capetillo (Westview) def. Devin Gentz (South Kitsap) 7-3; Third place: Vitaliy Manolov (Union) def. Kyle LeCoursiere (Lake Stevens) 6-5.
126 – First place: Clayton Gilliam (North Central) p. Noah Talavera (Union) 0:33. Third place: Matthew Harris (Selah) def. Michael Strickland (Camas) 5-3.
132 – First place: Lane Holland (Graham-Kapowsin) def. Ty Peth (Burlington-Edison) 4-1; Third place: Joey Coste (Westview) def. Colton Economy (Blaine) 5-1.
138 – First place: Clai Quintanilla (North Central) def. Mason Eaglin (South Kitsap) 11-5. Third place: Damon Thomas (WF West) def. Noah. Wachsmuth (Clackamas) 6-2.
145 – First place: Carlos Lopez (Selah) def. Danny Snediker (Union) 5-2; Third place: Sebastian Robles (South Kitsap) def. Jayden Fernandez (Olympic) 9-1.
152 – First place: . J.J. Talavera (Union) def. Michael Anderson (WF West) 4-3; Third place: Layn Pannkuk (Olympia) def. Seth Wahto (Peninsula) 11-5.
160 – First place: Sean Harman (West Linn) def. Tommy Strassenberg (Union) 6-4. Third place: Terrell West (Jefferson) p. Anthony Lindamood (Edmonds-Woodway) 2:21.
170 – First place: Riley Fritsch (Blaine) def. Aaron Pimentel (Selah) 3-1; Third place: Dylan Goodpaster (Evergreen) def. Mouffee Borras (Olympic) 13-4.
182 – First place: Jackson McKinney (Skyview) def. Samuel Malychewski (Camas) 5-4; Third place: Brendon Spahr (WF West) p. Alton Culver (Mountain View) 0:34.
195 – First place: Brian Pullman (Squalicum) def. Izaiah Davis (South Kitsap) 5-2; Third place: Ethan Long (West Linn) p. Tanner Howington (Camas) 3:29.
220 – First place: Cam Ewry (Clackamas) def. Dylan Ingram (Camas) 4-2; Third place: Saul Magallon (Blaine) def. Chris Sparks (Graham-Kapowsin) 7-3.
285 – First place: Brian Barnes (McMinnville) def. Caleb Hicks (Tumwater) 2-1. Third place: Taylor Mottern (Canby) p. Hunter Arredondo (WF West) 5:41.
