Wrestling: Wolves advance to regional tourneys

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Sequim grapplers are headed to regional tourneys after surviving sub-regional events in Sequim (girls) and Bremerton (boys).

On the boys’ side, Sequim advanced three wrestlers to the regional tournament, with two making it to sub-regional championships.

Cayden Beauregard lost in championship of 106-pound class in a 12-4 major decision to Bremerton’s Tanner Urrutia.

Sam Fitzgerald went 2-1 at 132 to finish second. He earned a 15-4 win in the semis but was pinned late at 5:31 while trailing 2-1.

Aaron Tolberd went 2-2 to finish fourth at 145 pounds. He knocked out two Port Angeles wrestlers in the consolation bracket — Anthony McMahan and Jack Harrelson, both by two points — before falling 6-3 in the third-place match.

“He had a very solid day,” Sequim coach Chad Cate said of Tolberd.

Mirek and Ari Skov placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 160-pound weight class. Mirek went 3-2, including a pin of his brother in the fifth/sixth place match. Ari Skov went 3-3 and was sixth, picking up three pins — including a 10-second pin in his first match.

Sequim’s Brandon Linson placed fifth at 132 pounds, going 3-2 and picking up two pins.

“The boys had a great day on Saturday,” Cate said.

The Class 2A Region 2 Tournament will be held at Orting High School on Feb. 12.

On the girls’ side, Petra Bernsten had the Wolves’ top finish, coming in sixth at 140 pounds to advance to regionals following a tough sub-district tourney that featured 32 schools.

She’ll compete at the Class 2A Region 2 Tournament at White River High School in Buckley on Feb. 12.

After a bye, Bernsten picked up a first period pin of Port Angeles’ Bailey Anderson, but then re-aggravated an injury in her second match.

“I pulled her from her final match in order to prevent further aggravation to her ankle,” Cate said. “She has a history of returning very strong from adversity.

“I suspect we’ll see a much stronger Petra this Saturday in White River.”

Jordan Hegtvedt (115 pounds) and Isabella Diaz (120) both paced seventh and are alternates.

Hegtvedt went 3-2 with three pins in her weight class, two of them coming in the first period.

Diaz also went 3-2 with three pins, the final coming in 2:50 over Yulitzy Timoteo of Spanaway Lake.

Sequim’s girls placed 19th with 31 team points. Rival Port Angeles was sixth overall (94 points), with White River taking top honors (224).