Spartans rack up wrestling wins
January 10, 2012
Conner Small, Liberty High School freshman, puts the shoulders of Redmond's Bryan Lapierre on the mat for a pin during the Liberty Wrestling Invitational Jan. 7. Small went on to win the 138-pound division. By Greg Farrar
Local high school wrestlers were plenty busy last week with Skyline and Issaquah both competing in league matches and invitational tournaments, and Liberty hosting its annual invitational.
Skyline High School wrestlers take down two opponents
January 6, 2012
NEW — 3:10 p.m. Jan. 6, 2012
The Skyline High School wrestling team took down two KingCo Conference 4A opponents Thursday when the Spartans overwhelmed Garfield 72-6 and walloped Redmond 64-9.
In the Garfield match, Skyline got pins from Amrit Puri (106), Justin Manipis (113), Jonathan Jo (120), Tyler White (130), Christian Caldwell (145), Ian Crouch (152), Douglas Lawson (170), Cyrus Sarkosh (182) and Sean McAlhaney (195).
Manipis, Sarkosh and Kyle Nardon (195) had pins for the Spartans against Redmond. Caldwell also recorded a major decision in the Redmond match.
In other action, Issaquah whipped Ballard 70-9.
Skyline wrestlers whip Eastlake
January 3, 2012
The Skyline High School wrestling team trounced rival Eastlake, 72-5, Dec. 15 in a KingCo Conference 4A match.
Tristan Steciw, a 120-pounder, and Christian Caldwell, a 145-pounder, each had pins for Skyline.
Justin Manipis (113), Ian Crouch (152), Michael Mecham (160) and Sean McAlhaney (195) all won their matches by technical falls for Skyline.
The Spartans also downed Bothell, 37-21, Dec. 13. Tyler White (138) and Caldwell had pins for Skyline. Crouch won his match with a major decision.
Skyline, Issaquah wrestling teams open season with wins
December 20, 2011
The Skyline and Issaquah high school wrestling teams opened their KingCo Conference 4A seasons Dec. 8 with victories.
Skyline hosted Ballard and Roosevelt in a double dual. The Spartans crushed Ballard, 66-15, and topped Roosevelt, 46-36.
Issaquah overwhelmed visiting Redmond, 60-18.
In the Skyline-Ballard match, Griffin Howlett (113), Jerred Kiss (126), Tyler White (138), Tyler Aguirre (145), Ian Crouch (152), Michael Mecham (160) and Douglas Lawson (170) recorded pins for the Spartans.
In the Skyline-Roosevelt match, Nathan Swanson (106), Howlett, Tristan Steciw (120), White, Crouch, Lawson and Cyrus Sarkosh (182) had pins for the Spartans.
Louden Ivey (120), Joseph Tonnemaker (145) and Matt Solusod (220) had pins for Issaquah in the Eagles victory against Redmond.
On Dec. 10, Tonnemaker finished first at the Battle of the Border Tournament at Blaine. He defeated Ryan Meggison, of Lynden, 4-1 in the title match.
Liberty’s Hamilton Noel took first place in the 160-pound division. He defeated Jordan Watts, of Mount Vernon, 4-0 in the title match.
Skyline wrestlers whip Eastlake
December 20, 2011
The Skyline High School wrestling team trounced rival Eastlake, 72-5, Dec. 15 in a KingCo Conference 4A match.
Tristan Steciw, a 120-pounder, and Christian Caldwell, a 145-pounder, each had pins for Skyline.
Justin Manipis (113), Ian Crouch (152), Michael Mecham (160) and Sean McAlhaney (195) all won their matches by technical falls for Skyline.
The Spartans also downed Bothell, 37-21, Dec. 13. Tyler White (138) and Caldwell had pins for Skyline. Crouch won his match with a major decision.
Liberty girls basketball team rallies by Mercer Island
December 16, 2011
NEW — 3 p.m. Dec. 16, 2011
The Liberty High School girls basketball team staged a tremendous fourth-quarter rally Thursday as the Patriots overcome visiting Mercer Island 45-41 in a KingCo Conference 3A/2A contest.
Liberty trailed 35-20 with five minutes left in the game but outscored Mercer Island 25-6 down the stretch to win the game.
Aspen Winegar had 14 points to lead Liberty. Sierra Carlson added nine points and Delane Agnew eight points as Liberty improved its league-leading record to 4-0. The Patriots are 6-0 on the season.
Mercer Island’s Krista Brackman led all players with 15 points.
Skyline, Issaquah wrestling teams open season with wins
December 9, 2011
NEW — 12:05 p.m. Dec. 9, 2011
The Skyline and Issaquah High School wrestling teams opened their KingCo Conference 4A seasons Thursday with victories.
Skyline hosted Ballard and Roosevelt in a double dual. The Spartans crushed Ballard 66-15 and topped Roosevelt 46-36.
Issaquah overwhelmed visiting Redmond 60-18.
In the Skyline-Ballard match, Griffin Howlett (113), Jerred Kiss (126), Tyler White (138), Tyler Aguirre (145), Ian Crouch (152), Michael Mecham (160) and Douglas Lawson (170) recorded pins for the Spartans.
In the Skyline-Roosevelt match, Nathan Swanson (106), Howlett, Tristan Steciw (120), White, Crouch, Lawson and Cyrus Sarkosh (182) had pins for the Spartans.
Patriot repeats as state’s No. 2
February 22, 2011
Hamilton Noel reached the finals at the Mat Classic for the second straight year. This time, the Liberty High wrestler reached the 152-pound finals of the 3A state competition Feb. 19 in the Tacoma Dome.
But, once again, Noel came up a bit short.
Noel lost to Enumclaw’s Josh Musick 6-2, after opening the match with a 2-0 lead.
Hamilton Noel, Liberty junior, has the better position on Enumclaw’s Josh Musick early in their 152-pound state 3A championship match Feb. 19 at the Tacoma Dome. By Sebastian Moraga
A disappointed Noel blamed himself for the loss.
“I knew it was going to be a good match; I came out, I scored on him, thought I had him, but I didn’t finish strong enough,” he said. “I’m just glad there’s next year.”
As it turned out, Noel was just one of two 3A KingCo Conference wrestlers to reach the finals.
Noel pledged to work on his conditioning for his senior season.
“I was a little gassed,” he said. “More than I should have been.”
Noel’s road to the finals began with a pin of Bishop Blanchet’s Myles Hollowed in the second period, a pin of Yelm’s Anthony Allred in the third, and a 4-2 decision over Mount Spokane’s Austin Pea.
Liberty coach Manny Brown praised his wrestler and the new champion.
“He gives us his all in practices and matches, everything,” Brown said of Noel. “Congratulations to Josh, who had a good match.”
Two local wrestlers grab regional titles
February 15, 2011
David White, of Issaquah High School, and Hamilton Noel, of Liberty High School, each won individual titles Feb. 12 in their respective regional wrestling tournaments.
White captured the 145-pound class at the Region II Tournament at Skyline. He defeated Austin Henderson, of Bethel, 7-2 in the final. White was the only 4A KingCo Conference wrestler to win a regional title.
He opened the tournament with a 10-0 victory against Bothell’s Dustin Rhode and defeated Inglemoor’s Brian Trabun 13-2 in the semifinals.
Issaquah teammate Max Tickman placed third in the 112-pound class after defeating Brett Dykman, of Beamer, 10-4. Almen Thorpe, of Issaquah, took fifth in the 135-pound class with a 7-0 victory against Redmond’s Brandon Long. Sean Novak, of Issaquah, placed fifth in the 140-pound class after pinning Eastlake’s Nykolai Peterson in 2:26.
Issaquah finished ninth in the tournament with 56 points. Graham-Kapowsin took first place with 194 points.
Liberty High School girls basketball team stuns Juanita
February 9, 2011
NEW — 10:30 a.m. Feb. 9, 2011
The Liberty High School girls basketball team got one of its biggest victories of the season Tuesday when the Patriots topped Juanita 53-44 in the semifinals of the 3A KingCo Conference tournament at Bellevue College.
Juanita, the regular-season champion, had defeated Liberty twice during the season. However, the Patriots took control in tournament contest by shooting to a 19-12 first-quarter lead. Liberty held a commanding 32-21 lead at halftime.
Danni Sjolander and Aspen Winegar each scored 15 points to lead the Patriots.
Liberty plays Mount Si at 8:15 p.m. Feb. 10 in the tournament title game. Mount Si defeated Mercer Island 61-49 in the other semifinal.
The top four KingCo teams and the top eight from the Metro League advance to the Sea-King District Tournament, which begins Saturday.
