Mules take second in Downriver Challenge

The Wahkiakum Mule wrestling team placed second in last Saturday's Downriver Challenge Tournament, held at Wahkiakum High School, and sophomore Mason Mackey won the championship in his weight class.

Competition included perennial powerhouses Palmeroy, Tacoma Baptist and Chief Leschi. In order to accomplish a 16 team tournament in one day, a special split bracket is set up, said Mule Coach Matt Stacey. The tournament is double elimination with placing of first through seventh and seventh. The seventh place wrestler has only lost one match all day; the first one. They must then come back and win four matches in a row to claim the seventh place medal.

Sophomore Mason Mackey led the Mules with a perfect day. He has come down to weight class 126 lbs. and remains the Mules only undefeated wrestler of the year, winning the finals with a commanding performance, Stacey said.

Dylan Hansen, Ben Vasion and Blayne Edwards all wrestled in the finals matches. For Hansen (285) and Vasion (182), this was their first time in the finals.

"Ben is coming off of a two year sabbatical from the sport and is beginning to find his groove," Stacey said. "Dylan wrestled for the Mules last year and is starting to dominate the district competition. Both are at heavier weight classes which can be challenging for younger wrestlers. Edwards wrestled up at 120 this weekend."

Wrestling for third and fourth places for the Mules were Luke Stacey (120), Alex Johnson (132), and Nate Cothren (152).

"Cothren was able to come through for third in an incredibly difficult weight class," Coach Stacey said. "(Luke) Stacey and Johnson both were forced to settle for fourth.

“By the time wrestlers are wrestling for third and fourth, they have put in an incredibly long and exhausting day. I do not doubt that earlier in the tournament, both of these freshmen could have changed the outcome of those matches.”

Tournaments can not be won without a full team effort, the coach added.

"Once again the whole Mule train went out as warriors, getting the extra team points by pins and superior decisions, and when they must, fighting off their back, never giving in," Stacey said. "All the Mule wrestlers brought in necessary team points to stay at the top of the tournament.

Jesús Crawford (126), Kody Vik (138), Brandon Burdick (145), Adam Vasion (152), Trystan Mendez (160), and Bubba Calvert (170) all worked hard to earn extra team points for the Mules.

"Even the rookie crop of wrestlers for Wahkiakum are making steady improvements. Jr. Ramirez and foreign exchange student Yao both wrestled well considering the level of difficulty at this tournament.

"The Mules would like to thank all of their friends within the community who made this tournament possible," Stacey said. "It would be impossible to list everyone who volunteered time, dropped off food, made donations and has given support. They would especially like to thank the local business and individuals who sponsored weight classes for the tournament. These sponsorships made it possible to bring back the Champions 'Belts, one of the highlights of this tournament. They would also like to thank Dave and Crystal Davis for their assistance in bringing the details for this tournament together and keeping the computer system running."

Next up for the Mule varsity is the North Okanogian Holiday Invite (NOHI) in Oroville (by the Canadian border) today (Thursday). After Christmas the team will travel to Clatskanie on December 28.