Sequim’s two state wrestling entries ran into tough competition at this year’s Mat Classic prep wrestling finals in the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 15, picking up one win in five matches.

Noah Eveland, a sophomore, opened the tourney with a pin of Trevor Scantling of Eatonville in the first round (1:12).

Eveland then had the unenviable task of taking on No. 1-ranked Isaiah Perez, a junior from Othello who won a state title last year. Perez pinned Eveland in 31 seconds. (Pereze went on to defend his state title with five pins in five matches.)

In the consolation bracket, freshman Eric Hayter of Aberdeen ended Eveland’s tourney with a pin in the second period (2:11).

Sequim’s other entry, fellow sophomore Aleah Chen, dropped both of her matches at 145 pounds.

Chen fell to 12th-ranked Dasha Burnett of Yelm, also a sophomore,in the second period (2:35). In the consolation bracket, Chen was pinned by Zillah frshman Kaydence Ward in 3:53.

Eveland, Chen and other regional qualifiers advanced to the state finals after recent winter storms forced cancellation of the regional tournaments across the state.

Sequim tied for 57th in the state 2A boys division with four team points. Port Angeles, with a sixth-place finisher (Riley Gale, 170) and eighth-place finisher (Adam Borde, 126), placed 35th in 2A.

Forks was the top finishing squad from the Olympic Peninsula, placing third in the 1A ranks behind champ Colville and runner-up Granger. Port Townsend placed 25th at 1A.