TACOMA — Wrestlers from the North Kitsap School District compete Feb. 15 in the Mat Classic, the state wrestling meet. The Kingston Buccaneers send eight wrestlers to State. The North Kitsap Vikings send five.

The wrestlers earned their way to State through the regional wrestling tournament Feb. 9. The top four wrestlers from each bracket advanced to State, with qualified alternates going as well.

The Bucs finished Regionals in third as a team. The Vikings finished fourth.

Kingston takes third as a team
Benny McMullen pinned Renton’s Vladimir Kalinin (5:27), and Washougal’s Tanner Baldwin (5:48), before losing to Olympic’s Avory Acfalle (10-1).

Bobby Reece pinned Olympic’s Kyler Segger (3:08), defeated Washougal’s Stephen Camden (15-0) and pinned North Mason’s Tyler Grewell (1:50) to win the 160-pound championship at Regionals. Reece is competing for his third state wrestling title.

Aaron Dickson pinned his first two opponents, North Maston’s Victor Mcintosh (3:18) and Washougal’s Josh Exonomides (2:39), before defeating Port Angeles’ Brian Criston (4-3) for the 170-pound regional championship.

Josh Henden became the 182-pound regional champion en route to claiming a title. He defeated Mark Morris High’s  Joe Leal (12-3), pinned Olympic’s Gabe Gaeta (3:11) and won the championship round with a win over North Mason’s Tommy March (7-1).

Mick Kane finished fifth in the 285-pound division after losing to James Garcia by fall (1:10), pinning Jacob Brown (0:22), losing by fall to Umu Timoteo (2:32) and pinning Jeremiah Kelemete (2:42).

Velarde wins three in a row for title in 138-pound division
Nikitta Westin defeated Andrew Langlois 5-3 and  Lindbergh’s Colton Maddy 12-0, and lost to Port Angeles’ Ozzy Swagerty 5-1. Westin finished second in the 126-pound regional bracket.

Jon Morgan pinned Renton’s Anthony Hunter (5:38), lost to North Kitsap’s Josh Tucker by fall (5:53), lost to North Mason’s Jon Day (6-5) and defeated Ridgeline’s Ryan Harris (9-7), to finish fifth in the 132-pound bracket.

Josh Tucker pinned Washougal’s Garrett Duey in (5:56) and North Kitsap’s Jon Morgan (5:53), and lost to Klahowya’s Brian Burchett (9-2), to finish second in the 132-pound bracket.

Jake Velarde won three in a row to become the regional champ in the 138-pound division. Velarde pinned Klahowya’s Conner Veach (1:24), Tyee’s Abraham Torres (0:58), and Long’s Tanner Ackerly by technical fall (4:35). Velarde is compete for his fourth state wrestling title.

Brenden Best lost to Port Angeles’ Michael Myers by injury defeat to place second in the 285-pound division. Best pinned Jeremiah Kelemete (1:53) and Olympic’s Umu Timoteo (4:18) before heading to the championship round.

Kingston’s Redbird is champ in 145-pound division
BATTLE GROUND — Sonya Redbird won three matches in a row en route to claiming the 145-pound championship at the regional meet.

Redbird pinned Jessica Rodrigues (1:48) and Kyla Campbell (5:02) before taking first in the bracket with a win over Brooke Peterson (12-7).

Kingston’s Lindsey Barnhill and Ivy Rodolf also earned top finishes. Barnhill finished second in the 112-pound division. She defeated Dao Nguyen (1-0), Taryn Lommasson (5-2), before losing to Napavine’s Cassie Edwards (6-2).

Rodolf defeated Hailey Huerta (7-0) to take third in the 118-pound division. Rodolf won over Erin Tully (12-5), before losing to McKenna Emmert (3-0). Rodolf then pinned Kingston’s Peyton Reece (1:23) for a shot at third.