Sequim’s Wolves held their own in the 16-team Battle for the Axe tournament in Port Angeles this past weekend, finishing seventh out of 16 teams.
In four-team pool play brackets, Sequim went 2-1 – earning wins over Franklin Pierce (42-21) and Kingston (52-24) and falling to eventual third place finisher North Mason (53-21).
In the championship bracket that seeded teams by pool play record, Sequim lost a 33-32 heart-breaker to South Whidbey before shutting out Lakes (48-0).
Sequim’s Ari Skov was unbeaten (4-0) at 170 pounds, earning pins of Kingston’s Liam Nickerson (2:12) and North Mason’s Caden Atencio (1:05), and a technical fall (16-0) win over South Whidbey’s Gavin Baker.
At 113/120 pounds, Sequim’s Cayden Beauregard went 5-0, with three wins by forfeit. Both of his other wins came by pin within a minute, as he topped Damian Radilla of Franklin Pierce (51 seconds) and Matthew Tarantino (29 seconds).
Sequim’s Dylan Bowen scored a 4-1 record at 182 pounds, a record that included two pins — over South Whidbey’s Broday Nelson in 1:32, and Kingston’s Jackson Glammeier in 3:10 — and a 14-13 nail-biter over North Mason’s Garcia Stites.
SHS’s James Mason went 4-1 at 138 pounds, including pins of North Mason’s Syven Dera (3:03) and Kingston’s Kendrid Ayala (0:42).
Aaron Tolberd scored a 3-1 record at 145 pounds for the Wolves, including a 4-2 decision over South Whidbey’s Cole Thorsen and a pin of Kingston’s John Trecott (0:57).
James Smith was 3-2 at 152 pounds, earning a pin of South Whidbey’s Andrew Fundak in 3:08.
Hunter Halverson went 3-3 at 126/132 pounds, including a pin of South Whidbey’s Landon Thomas (in 1:26).
Roger Burwash earned a pair of wins at 160 pounds, pinning Manu Rivas of Kingston in 2:00.
Forks won the tourney with a 5-0 mark, beating East Jefferson, South Whidbey and River Ridge in pool play, North Mason in the semi-final and Washington in the championship match. North Mason edged Port Angeles for third place.
Coming up
Sequim is at Bremerton to take on the host Knights and Port Angeles Roughriders on Jan. 11.
Following that, the Wolves visit Bainbridge Island twice in the span of four days, for the Island Invitational on Jan. 14 and a double-dual league meet against the Spartans and North Kitsap Vikings on Jan. 18.
Sequim finishes the regular season with a home match against North Mason and Olympic on Jan. 25.
