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Pac Coast boys wrestling: Noah Koyama of Union wins state-final rematch to take title at 144 pounds

Senior is one of five local tournament champions

By Tim Martinez, Columbian Assistant Sports Editor
Published: December 28, 2024, 11:14pm
5 Photos
Noah Koyama of Union wrestles Daeton Johnson of Chiawan in the 144-pound boys final at the Pac Coast Championships wrestling tournament at the Clark County Events Center in Ridgefield on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.
Noah Koyama of Union wrestles Daeton Johnson of Chiawan in the 144-pound boys final at the Pac Coast Championships wrestling tournament at the Clark County Events Center in Ridgefield on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Tim Martinez/The Columbian) Photo Gallery

RIDGEFIELD — Union’s Noah Koyama met a familiar foe for the championship Saturday at 144 pounds at the Pac Coast Championship wrestling tournament.

The Union senior was matched up against Daeton Johnson of Chiawana in a rematch of the 4A state title match at 138 pounds last season.

On Saturday at the Clark County Events Center, Koyama had to rally in the third period to escape with a 6-5 victory for his second straight Pac Coast title.

“That’s like the fifth time we’ve wrestled in high school,” Koyama said. “I’m pretty used to it. It was the same situation at state. You know, I’m down by one. I need that takedown at the end of third period to seal the deal. And I just did it. I trusted my attacks. I’ve spent a ton of time working on my feet, so it all paid off.”

16 Photos
Janessa O'Connell of Union is declared the winner of the 140-pound girls final at the Pac Coast Championships wrestling tournament at the Clark County Events Center in Ridgefield on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024.
Pac Coast Championships wrestling Photo Gallery

Koyama’s senior season is shaping up a big like his junior season, when he lost only one match on his way to the 138-pound state title.

That loss came in the Hammerhead Tournament in Bremerton in December.

Last weekend, Koyama lost his first match since that loss, again at the Hammerhead, when he fell in the title match at 150 pounds to Colby Ducatt of Bonney Lake.

“I felt like I wrestled pretty solid (this weekend),” Koyama said. “Unfortunately, last week, I had some setbacks. But this week, I luckily bounced back, kept my head and didn’t let my loss last week drag me down.”

Koyama said he plans to wrestle at 144 pounds in the postseason this year.

“I walk around at like (146),” he said. “But I’ve just been enjoying the food lately. So I was like ‘I’ll just wrestle (150).’ But then last weekend, kids are getting pretty big, so I decided to make the couple-pound drop. It made the most sense.”

Four other local wrestlers captured Pac Coast titles on Saturday, starting with Koyama’s Union teammate Desmond Villanueva.

Villanueva beat Jovaien Manibusan-Bamba of Spanaway Lake 11-7 to take the 120-pound crown.

Skyview twins Jonas and Mason DesRochers both won titles.

Jonas DesRochers had to pull away late to beat Connor Crum of Seton Catholic 7-1 at 132 pounds.

Mason DesRochers beat Zackery Motzkus of Battle Ground by technical fall (23-8, 4:28) to win at 138 pounds.

Those two wins helped Skyview place second in the team standings, scoring 193.5 points to trail only Wapato with 222.5.

Camas junior Simon Jarrell pinned Tayten Cissne of Chiawan in 3:01 to claim the title at 175 pounds.

Hunter Shirley of La Center (106), Kingston McPherson of Mountain View (165) and Jasper Armstrong of Hockinson (190) earned runner-up finishes.

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