A clutch near fall by Rainier High School wrestler Ryleigh Cruse against Tenino’s Emma Chance simultaneously clinched the tying and tie-breaking points for the Mountaineers on a criteria that fell in the second breath of the alphabet.
Rainier and Tenino coaches had to scroll through all of the possible tiebreakers as Cruse needed just a pin in the 235-pound match to tie it at 36 in a dual at Tenino High School on Wednesday, Jan. 29. They landed on the 10th criteria, criteria J, which was the most near falls scored in a match. Cruse’s was the only near fall scored in the entire dual.
“Going into this match, I set my goal to try different moves, and as the match went on, I was able to work in different moves and accomplished a pin,” Cruse said. “I had a plan and I worked hard to accomplish my plan.”
The sophomore was one of three Mountaineer girls to earn victories on the mat against the Beavers, joining Annabelle Whiteman, 135, and Keira Anderson, 170. Dakota Gardner, 110, Josie Grager, 115, and April Anguiano, 140, won by forfeit. Layla Hill, 125, lost via pin in the scored match to Tenino’s Natalieh Chacon but won in a hard-fought exhibition match. Lauryn Lapine, 100, lost via pin to Elise Martinez while Ayana Elmstead, 120, fell short by pin to Maleah Chacon.
Rainier girls coach Kelli Garner was impressed with how her team continues to improve with the postseason just weeks away.
“I was really impressed with Annabelle. She’s really improved and has come a long, long way. Her getting out there and really focusing on the moves that she knew and then the moves that she’s been trying was a great opportunity for her,” Garner said. “Keira always does fantastic, along with Ryleigh. Layla did great, even in her second match, which was an exhibition. She’s putting in the work. Last year was a little bit of an iffy year, but this year, she’s way more focused.”
The Mountaineer boys helped Rainier secure the sweep of Tenino with a 48-30 victory led by four wins by pin. Tristin Sawyer, 120, Addison Poole, 138, Brayden Walker, 144, and Blake Roberts, 215, scored pins for the visitors. Pins by Sawyer, Poole and Walker helped Rainier jump out to a 36-0 lead that it would not relinquish, and Roberts’ triumph was the dagger.
Evan Delaney, 106, Bradley Behling, 126, Jayden Alegarbes, 132, and Zander Peck, 165, won by forfeit. Liam Hentze, 150, Ean Viik, 157, Dorien Cano, 175, and Steven Johnston, 190, lost by pin.
Boys coach Chris Holterman said first-year wrestler Sawyer, who started the year in the 132-pound JV class, got things rolling for Rainier against a banged-up Beavers squad.
“Tristin’s match got the kids into the dual, pumped up the crowd and really energized things,” Holterman said. “Tenino was missing some wrestlers with injuries, which forced them to forfeit weights that they had. It was unfortunate for them. It really could have made the match closer had they been in the lineup.”
Tenino’s Zack Ashley, 150, Gavin Maurer, 157, Koy Knox, 175, and Guy Lowery, 190, picked up victories on the mat while Rowdie Tafoya, 285, won by forfeit.
The Rainier girls will travel to Puyallup on Saturday, Feb. 1 for the Lady Viking Invitational to wrap up their regular season. The boys will await their seeds on Sunday, Feb. 2 to see where they will land in the brackets for the state qualifier on Saturday, Feb. 8.