Ryan Klemp is a three-time state champion who is undefeated this year and has accepted a wrestling scholarship from a Big 12 Conference school.

He might reasonably expect top seeding, therefore, in the Clearwater Classic.

Didn't happen.

But the Lewiston High senior didn't sound very resentful Friday night after pinning his two opponents at 160 pounds in a combined two minutes as the 29th annual tournament got underway at Booth Hall.

"You know, you can't argue with the seeding criteria," Klemp said.

Especially when it's your own school's tournament. And the Lewiston Bengals seemed more focused on efficient wrestling than getting the pecking order just right for the 16-team tourney that wraps up today.

Despite failing to land a single No. 1 seed, the Bengals pushed 12 wrestlers into the semifinals and boosted their chances for a fifth consecutive Clearwater team title.

Toppenish, which boasts six top seeds, staked out a first-day lead over Lewiston at the top of the team scoring, 77 points to 721/2, but the central Washington school advanced one fewer wrestler into the semis than Lewiston did.

"This is the first time this season the kids have got to wrestle in front of their home fans," Lewiston coach Colt Heger said. "They're stepping up, putting on a show. They're performing very well."

Action resumes at 9 a.m. today and finals are scheduled for approximately 4:30 p.m.

Heger, who took over the Lewiston program this season, theorized that previous coach Dan Maurer reviewed the Clearwater seeding before each tournament and corrected any lapses in logic. And Heger said he will try to do the same starting next year.

"It's fine - you've got to show up and wrestle anyway, whether you're the No. 1 seed or not," Heger said. "You've got to strap your boots on the same way."

The Bengals settled for three No. 2 seeds, including one for marquee wrestler Klemp. Supposedly win-loss records weighed heavily in the criteria, but somehow Klemp at 14-0 was ranked behind the estimable Rowdy Paul of Potlatch.

"I'm trying not to think about that too much," Paul said. "With seeds, anything can happen."

Paul is a two-time Idaho 2A champion, and he needed scarcely more time than Klemp to pin his two opponents Friday. But as far as Klemp can recall, he has never lost to Paul in any of their numerous matchups since they were youngsters.

Paul, whose sometimes severe asthma poses especially harsh challenges in tournaments, advanced to the third round of the prestigious Tri-State Invitational in Coeur d'Alene last month. Merely finishing that tournament was a triumph for him, but meanwhile he absorbed two losses.

"I had a lot of mind games going on in that tournament," he said. "As a first seed I was automatically way more nervous. But I've gotten past that and have gotten back to where I was mentally."

Also feeling relaxed these days, for different reasons, are Lewiston wrestlers Klemp, Drake Randall (152) and Marshall Bowen (132).

They have all put the stresses of recruiting behind them, with Klemp signing in November with West Virginia and the other two last month with Montana State-Northern, where Randall's older brother Drew already wrestles.

"That was a big weight off my mind," said Drake Randall, who won both his matches by fall Friday. "It was nice to get that out of the way, not having to impress coaches and stuff like that."

Also advancing from the quarterfinals for Lewiston were Bowen, Colton Jones, Tanner Hutchens, Hunter Fliger, Ty Hendren, Alex Light, Josh Reynolds, Jody Dykes and Brandon Vandevender.

Klemp, Randall and Vandevender all won Clearwater crowns last year.

Top-seeded Tanner Benton (132) of Clarkston was a first-round casualty, jumping to a 5-0 lead but getting caught in a head-and-arm and suffering a second-period pin to Alex Ramos of Kennewick, who had previously lost to Benton this season.

"Disappointing, but it happens," said Clarkston coach Duane Benton, the wrestler's father. "We still have six guys in the semis - we're happy with that."

Those semifinalists are Dalton Port, Jake Freeman, Spencer Clegg, Zach Freeman, Hunter Sisemore and Dylan Beeler.

The tournament, returning to Booth Hall this year after several editions at the more spacious Lewis-Clark State Activity Center, breezed through two winner's-bracket rounds and a consolation round in three-plus hours, with six mats in use the whole way.

First-day team scores

Toppenish 77, Lewiston 721/2, Walla Walla 62, Clarkston 56, Chewelah 53, Kennewick 49, Southridge 48, Clearwater Valley 33, St. Maries 321/2, Pullman 32, Potlatch 28, Moscow 18, Pomeory 18, Grangeville 10, Enterprise 12, Orofino 9.

Quarterfinals

98 - Dominique Garcia, Top, def. Karson Krouse, Pom, forfeit; Micah Aguilar, WW, p. Braden Nopens, Gra, 3:03; Mckinley Hudiburg, WW, p. Dustin Mansil, Mos, 0:43; Clayne Miller, Ent, p. Justin Smith, Clk, 2:49.

106 - Dalton Port, Clk, p. Dalton Smith, Chew, 0:17; Cole Farwell, Ent, p. Isaiah Acosta, Pul, 2:16; Kettrell Green, Sou, bye; Dylan Staigle, Ent, p. Ethan Vogtman, Ken, 2:55.

113 - Jake Freeman, Clk, p. Ammon Dewey, Gra, 0:58; Colton Jones, Lew, p. Jose Arellano, Top, 1:12; Tanner Hutchens, Lew, p. Dawson Harris, Oro, 2:28; Joshua Camacho, WW, p. Nate Anton, Ent, 1:29.

120 - Spencer Clegg, Clk, p. Gage Mitchell, SM, 1:31; Ajejandro Ramos, Ken, p. Carlos Urcino, Top, 0:55; Hunter Fliger, Lew, dec. Cesar Flores, Sou, 13-7; Joshua Pettyjohn, WW, p. Jacob Loomis, Chew, 0:15.

126 - Josue Rodriguez, Top, maj. dec. Klayton Babino, Clk, 13-4; Emilio Ramos, Ken, p. Brian Ocampo, WW, 1:51; Hayden Humphrey, SM, dec. Benedicto Salcedo, WW, 4-2; Ty Hendren, Lew, p. Joshua Elmenhurst, WW, 1:09.

132 - Alex Ramos, Ken, p. Isaac Stone, Mos, 0:53; Marshall Bowen, Lew, maj. dec. Kyle Connall, Chew, 9-1; Alex Light, Lew, dec. Frankie Zumwalt, Gra, 11-8; Javier Hart, Top, p. Derek Jacobson, Pul, 2:52.

138 - Daniel Juarez, Top, dec. Max Hill, Lew, 7-0; Matt Crise, Chew, p. Clayton Detmer, Sou, 1:12; David Ramos, Ken, p. Carson Morrow, CV, 0:35; Cole Wallen, Pot, p. Gabe Jones, Pul, 1:26.

145 - Felipe Arriaga, Top, p. Justin Evans, WW, 1:38; Josh Reynolds, Lew, p. John Crise, Chew, 3:25; Jody Dykes, Lew, p. Wesley Mack, Chew, 0:54; Trenton Nett, Sou, p. Lake Campbell, Mos, 0:40.

152 - Brent Evans, Top, p. Skylar Ruiz, WW, 2:07; Zach Freeman, Clk, dec. Zach Wilkins, CV, 8-7; Josh Richmond, SM, tf. Isaac James, CV, 19-3; Drake Randall, Lew, p. Clayton King, Pom, 2:53.

160 - Rowdy Paul, Pot, p. Isaac Draper, Clk, 0:42; Joey Riojas, Top, p. Ian Anderson, CV, 0:47; Isaac Walters, SM, p. Quenton Smith, Chew, 3:37; Ryan Klemp, Lew, p. Reid Magnaghi, WW, 0:39.

170 - Dominic Gonzalez, Top, p. Brandon Ball, Clk, 4:51; Connor Brown, Sou, maj. dec. Jose Oliva, Ken, 14-2; Layton Paul, Pot, p. Jesse Harvey, SM, 1:26; Damon Nuttman, Gra, p. Tytler Morrow, CV, 1:54.

182 - Nathan Masterson, SM, p. Riley Olson, Chew, 4:52; Cody Cromer, Lew, p. Ronny Loomis, Ken, 2:54; Ryan Bell, Chew, p. Zach Toyoda, Pul, 4:15; Salvador Osorio, Top, dec. Daniel Lahaie, Lew, 10-4.

195 - Hunter Sisemore, Clk, p. Ben Roll, Gra, 1:11; Brandon Vandevender, Lew, p. Caleb Couch, Mos, 1:56; Conner Krouse, Chew, p. Lucas Rassbach, WW, 2:26; Steven Masterson, Sou, p. Daniel Stevens, Mo, 4:00.

220 - Dylan Beeler, Clk, p. Justin Biebow, Gra, 0:27; Josh Hanley, Chew, p. Ryan Rogel, WW, 4:00; Isaic Anaya, Top, p. Jon Asker, Gra, 1:44; Mario Prado, Sou, dec. Cajun Lankford, Chew, 16-11.

285 - Kurt Blackman, WW, p. Austin Pipgras, Chew, 1:40; Bradley Ornelas, Ken, p. Derrick Charpentier, Clk, 0:39; Jonathan Cuevas, Top, p. Brendan Villasenor, Ken, 0:12; Luke Davidson, Sou, p. Jesse McCoy, Chew, 1:47.

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Grummert may be contacted at daleg@lmtribune.com or (208) 848-2290.