After rolling through the first three rounds of Mat Classic, Bremerton’s Lauren Richardson wasn’t about to let up in the state wrestling championship.

She didn’t.

In fact, the 103-pound sophomore, who entered Mat Classic XXI as the West Central District III regional girls champion, made quick of work Jomae Alewine of Lake Stevens in the girls 103 title match at the Tacoma Dome Saturday.

With older brother and former BHS grappling star Billy Richardson cheering her on matside, Lauren Richardson secured the title with a pin at about the 0:45 mark of the second period and the score tied 2-2.

“This is the happiest moment of my life,” she said following the match, beaming.

Richardson’s road to the finals was relatively smooth. She pinned Meghan Kajca of Emerald Ridge in the first period of the first round, cruised past Everett’s Justine Palabrica 15-0 in Round 2, then edged Ferndale’s Jade Mutappa 5-4 to advance to the finals.

Teammate Andres Garcia, a senior, finished third at 189 with a pin at the 1:12 mark of the second period against Mason Remy of Bainbridge Island in the match for third and fourth place.

After building a 2-0 lead through one period, Garcia pinned Remy with the score 5-0 in the second.

“I knew he was stronger than me,” Garcia said, explaining his intent was to be the aggressor throughout the match.

Garcia, who lost 5-3, to Everett’s Jerry Contreras in first-round action Friday, called the third-place finish “bittersweet.”

“I think after I lost that first match, people kind of forgot about me,” said Garcia, who won five consecutive matches following the early setback to secure third.

One of those wins came against Union’s Clinton Coulter, who beat Garcia in the Class 3A West Central District championship match Feb. 14.

“He’s a great wrestler,” Garcia said of Coulter. “But I knew I could beat him.”

Check back later for a comprehensive report.

For additional Mat Classic XXI photos, visit http://bremertonpatriot.exposuremanager.com/g/bremerton_high_school_wrestling_200809