Washougal girls dominate at Clark County Championships

The Columbian made a point to interview every Clark County wrestling champion Saturday.

Click here for reaction from each girls champion

There was a little bit more competition at the Clark County Girls Wrestling Championships this year because meet organizers went outside of Clark County to find a few more wrestlers.

Didn’t matter to Washougal on Saturday.

The Panthers won another team title. Easily.

Washougal won four individual titles and nearly doubled up tournament newcomer Kalama in points for the team title. It is Washougal’s fourth consecutive championship.

“It’s like family,” said junior Yaneli Martinez, who won her second Clark County title with a pin over Isabelle Morales of Union at 105 pounds. “I’ve done other sports and it doesn’t feel the same as wrestling does. Everyone here is so much closer. I don’t consider them friends or teammates. I consider them family.”

Washougal’s other winners were: Morgan Ratcliff at 135 pounds, Christina Murray at 140, and Abby Lees at 155 pounds. The Panthers scored 161 points. Kalama was second with 84, and Skyview took third with 52 points.

The Panthers were assured a champion at 140 because Murray faced teammate Hannah Eakins in the finals.

“It’s never the best thing,” Murray said. “Even though you’re guaranteed a win for your team, you want your teammate to win, too.”

That is just another example of Washougal dominance, though. There were seven Washougal finalists, represented in six of the nine weight classes that were held this year.

Lees said she is proud to be carrying on a family tradition and of being a girl in the sport. Her dad and her uncles wrestled at Washougal. Now it’s her time to shine.

“It shows girls aren’t weak,” Lees said. “We can be strong and intense, too.”

Ratcliff’s win was special to her because she was a runner-up a year ago in this event. She pinned Katelyn Shaffer of Mountain View for her title.

“It’s a lot better than second,” she said.

Battle Ground’s Sierra Joner was winning her match the same time her brother Chris was winning his on the boys mat. For Sierra Joner, a sophomore, it was her second Clark County title.

“You know you’re progressing and just getting better,” said Joner, who defeated Skyview’s Foster Scott 9-0.

Wrestlers anticipate this event, too, because it is a home tournament. Most of the girls have to travel outside of Southwest Washington to find competition throughout the regular season. The sport is growing, but there are still gaps to fill on tournament brackets.

“It’s a blessing to be here, to have my family supporting me,” Joner said.

Caitlin Horrocks of Skyview agreed. She won her second county title, topping Makenna Speed of Kalama 10-3.

“It’s a really cool thing to see everybody in your county. You don’t always get a chance to wrestle these schools,” she said.

Sara Angelo of Mountain View beat Mialisa Oster of Washougal 11-3 for her first title. A senior, Angelo started wrestling four years ago.

“It means so much to me. I’ve worked so much the past four years,” Angelo said. “I usually end up second, so this feels really, really good.”

Emily Posey and Dakota Moon of Kalama won, giving the Chinooks two champions in their first appearance at the Clark County event.

Clark County Girls Championships results

Team champion: Washougal

Team points: Washougal 161, Kalama 84, Skyview 52, Mountain View 51, Camas 44, Union 43.5, Battle Ground 28, Fort Vancouver 15, La Center 12, Evergreen 12, Heritage 12.

Individual placers

105 championship: Yaneli Martinez (Wash) p. Isabelle Morales (U) in 3:31.

3rd place: Samantha Eakins (Wash) p. Bethany Shaver (Eve) in 3:36.

115 championship: Emily Posey (Kal) p. Jessica Eakins (Wash) in 1:49.

3rd place: Jasmine Meza (LC) p. Katie Kay (Eve) in :58

120 championship: Sierra Joner (BG) d. Foster Scott (Sky) 9-0.

3rd place: Baylee Wright (Wash) p. Elizaveta Foat (Cam) in 1:37.

125 championship: Caitlin Horrocks (Sky) d. Makenna Speed (Kal) 10-3.

3rd place: Diana Diaz (FV) p. Jaden Robb (Wash) in 1:38

130 championship: Sara Angelo (MV) d. Mialisa Oster (Wash) 11-3.

3rd place: Sydney Burres (Cam).

135 championship: Morgan Ratcliff (Wash) p. Katelyn Shaffer (MV) in 3:03.

3rd place: Jasmine Ross (U) p. Zoe Wrisley (U) in 3:48.

140 championship: Christina Murray (Wash) by DQ over Hannah Eakins (Wash).

3rd place: Kelcie Kysar (Her) p. Sidnee Arcury (BG) 4:35.

155 championship: Abby Lees (Wash) d. Haley Horrocks (Sky) 8-0.

3rd place: Stephanie Cuevas (U) p. Bailee Thompson (Cam) in 1:40.

190 championship: Dakota Moon (Kal) p. Cassie Marshal (Kal) in 1:44.

3rd place: Kira Hefflin (Cam) p. Samantha Flannelly (Cam) in :45.