The match might not have been perfect. But Tiffany Hu still is.
The Union junior remained unbeaten this season, beating Jessica Melone of Kelso 8-4 in the 112-pound finals during the girls wrestling sub-regional tournament on Saturday at Hudson’s Bay High School.
Four wrestlers in each of 12 weight classes qualified for the regional tournament on Feb. 12 at Hoquiam. At the regionals, the top four finishers qualify for Mat Classic.
Hu trailed in the third round of her championship match, and credited Melone with being prepared for her attack. Hu pinned the Kelso wrestler in their previous meeting this season.
“I did have doubts at times,” said Hu, admitting to feeling pressure to stay unbeaten, and calling the victory “very satisfying.”
Kelso easily won the team title among 21 participating schools, piling up 258.5 points. The Hilanders had champions at five of the 12 weight divisions.
Battle Ground (135) finished second in team scoring and had two champions. Mikayla Miilam pinned Kelso’s Jennifer Beach to finish atop the 160-pound class, which had three competitors. And Mixtly Simon needed 15 seconds to pin teammate Mary Pitner to win the four-wrestler 171-pound class.
Stephanie Simon of Evergreen pinned Kelso’s Mykie Baron in 3:17 to earn the sub-regional crown at 145 pounds.
Stevenson junior Allison Brown won at 130 pounds, pinning Mary Mortenson from Kelso in 4:49 in the finals. And White Salmon junior Sarah Gibson was the 140-pound champion after Skyview’s Anna Stauffer defaulted because of injury.
2A sub-regional — Washougal’s Chism King was named the outstanding wrestler of the tournament, while host R.A. Long captured the team title.
King, competing at 112 pounds, pinned all three of his opponents in less than a minute to win his weight class.
The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to next Saturday’s regional meet at Tumwater.
R.A. Long scored 328 points to outdistance itself from second-place Washougal (227). R.A. Long had seven individual champions and is sending 12 wrestlers to regionals.
Washougal’s Michael Huck (140), John Barrette (160), and Tyler Purkeypyle (189) won their weight classes.
Woodland’s Williams Davis won the 171-pound bracket.
Hockinson’s Cody Sheddy won the 125-pound bracket.
1A sub-regional — Juan Valencia (215 pounds), Nate Williams (135), Jacob Schade (215) and Zach Anderson (160) won sub-regional titles in helping Ridgefield place second behind Castle Rock at the sub-regional at La Center.
Wrestlers from the eight Trico League teams were vying for berths into next week’s regional meet at Castle Rock.
Castle Rock won the team title with 326 points, followed by Ridgefield (254). Stevenson (202.5) was third and La Center (174) was fifth.
Also winning sub-regional titles were La Center’s Patrick Mayolo (130), Chris Mayolo (145) and Ryan Kulla (171), as well as Stevenson’s Karl Bell (140) and Wade Huett (285).
