CLEARWATER CLASSIC: Bengals stumble to finish line

Watching its hopes for a sixth straight Clearwater Classic go up in smoke, Lewiston stumbled during the event's final day when it dropped five of its eight championship matches.

And first-year Bengal wrestling coach Colt Heger will be the first to tell you: "Man, we didn't show up."

Four individual champions proved enough to pace 2A Toppenish from central Washington to a Clearwater Classic team title as Josue Rodriguez (126 pounds), Daniel Juarez (138 pounds), Felipe Arriaga (145 pounds) and Brent Evans (152 pounds) paced the Wildcats past runner-up Lewiston 231-2011/2.

Clarkston finished third as a team in the event and at 113 pounds, the Bantams' Jake Freeman scored perhaps the most dramatic win of the day in a sudden overtime victory over Lewiston's Tanner Hutchens.

"That was a good confidence boost for Jake," said Clarkston coach Duane Benton, who noted that his freshman had to rally from a four-point hole over the final minute.

"So we were pretty pleased with Jake's performance."

Dalton Port (106 pounds) and Dylan Beeler (220 pounds) also won titles for Clarkston, and Port was the tournament's outstanding wrestler under 152 pounds.

The event also tabbed Lewiston's Ryan Klemp with the oustanding wrestler award for over 152 pounds after he shut out Potlatch's Rowdy Paul, the top seed in his division, in the finale.

Like Klemp, Cody Cromer, another Lewiston champ, entered the tournament with something to prove; last year, Cromer, then a freshmen, competed in the JV bracket of the Clearwater Classic and he "left no doubt" he belonged on the varsity, in his coach's words, after his third-round pin of Toppenish's Salvdor Osorio at 182 pounds. Marshall Bowen also won a crown for the Bengals and called the tournament "a good experience."

"We don't get a lot of home showings," said Klemp, who will wrestle next year for West Virginia University, "so when you do, you want to impress people."

Toppenish hasn't made the trip to Lewiston the past several years due to budget concerns, said coach Johnny Cerna.

"But I knew we were going to compete," he added.

Rodriguez and Evans scored the only two head-to-head wins over Lewiston for Toppenish in the finals.

And Evans, an all-state talent for the Wildcats in football, was quick to note that "this is a small piece of the journey we're on.

"We see the light at the end."

Grangeville's Damon Nuttman claimed the 170-pound championship with a 13-2 major decision over Dominic Ganzalez.

Clearwater Classic

Final Team Scores

Varsity teams only - Toppenish, 231. Lewiston, 201.5. Clarkston, 146.5. Chewelah, 128. Southridge, 127. Walla Walla, 111. Kennewick, 89. Potlatch, 65. St. Maries, 55.5. Pullman, 50. Grangeville, 45. Enterprise, 44.5. CV, 38. Moscow, 28. Pomeroy, 20. Orofino, 9.

Outstanding wrestlers

Below 152 - Dalton Port, Cla

Above 152 - Ryan Klemp, Lew

Medal rounds

98 pounds

Championship - Clayne Miller, Ent, maj. dec. Dominique Garcia, Top, 9-0.

Third place - Mckinley Hudiburg, WW, maj. dec. Dustin Mansil, Mos, 15-2.

106 pounds

Championship - Dalton Port, Cla, p. Kettrell Green, SR, 2:10.

Third place - Cole Farwell, Ent., p. Isaiah Acosta, Pul, 2:28

113 POUNDS

Championship - Jake Freeman, Cla, sv Tanner Hutchens, Lew, 14-12

Third place - Colton Jones, Lew, p. Josh Camacho, WW, 3:26.

120 pounds

Championship - Ajejandro Ramos, Ken, dec. Hunter Fliger, Lew, 8-3.

Third place - Joshua Pettyjohn, WW, p. Cesar Flores, SR, 4:06.

126 pounds

Championship - Josue Rodriguez, Top, p. Ty Hendren, Lew, 5:53.

Third place - Emilio Ramos, Ken, p. Klayton Babino, Cla, 2:59.

132 pounds

Championship - Marshall Bowen, Lew, dec. Javier Hart, Top, 12-7.

Third place - Kyle Connall, Che, p. Alex Ramos, Ken, 3:56.

138 pounds

Championship - Daniel Juarez, Top, maj. dec., Cole Wallen, Pot., 12-4.

Third place - Matt Crise, Che, maj. dec. Clayton Detmer, SR, 14-5.

145 pounds

Championship - Felipe Arriaga, Top, dec. Trenton Nett, SR, 4-0.

Third place - Josh Reynolds, Lew, dec. John Crise, Chew, 9-2.

152 pounds

Championship - Brent Evans, Top, dec. Drake Randall, Lew, 7-6.

Third place - Zach Freeman, Cla, p. Josh Richmond, St., 4:44.

160 pounds

Championship - Ryan Klemp, Lew, dec. Rowdy Paul, Pot, 7-0.

Third place - Joey Riojas, Top, dec. Isaac Walters, St., 13-10.

170 pounds

Championship - Damon Nuttman, Gra, maj. dec. Dominic Ganzalez, Top, 13-2.

Third place - Layton Paul, Pot, p. Connor Brown, SR, 2:36.

182 pounds

Championship - Cody Cromer, Lew, p. Salvdor Osorio, Top, 4:48.

Third place - Nathan Masterson, St., p. Ryan Bell, Che, 1:41.

195 pounds

Championship - Conner Krouse, Che, sv Brandon Vandevender, Lew, 5-1.

Third place - Hunter Sisemore, Cla, p. Shaydn Wassmuth, Gra, 2:15.

220 Pounds

Championship - Dylan Beeler, Cla, p. Mario Prado, SR, 1:59.

Third place - Josh Hanley, Che, maj. dec. Isaic Anaya, Top, 18-7.

285 pounds

Championship - Kurt Blackman, WW, dec. Luke Davidson, SR, 17-6.

Third place - Jonathan Cuevas, Top, p. Bradley Ornelas, Ken, 1:43.