TACOMA — It was a banner weekend for the SCAC, as Wapato claimed the 1A boys team championship at Mat Classic and Zillah finished runner-up in a league 1–2 finish on the Tacoma Dome floor.

Wapato boys rise to the top

The Wolves piled up 300.5 points to secure the program’s first team state crown, holding off Zillah (235). Cashmere (fifth) and Royal (ninth) added depth to a SCAC-heavy leaderboard.

Wapato advanced wrestlers into finals all over the brackets. Alvaro Barragan (113, fourth), Noeh Martinez (120, second), Adrian Espinoza (126, sixth), Aiden Badonie (132, second), Christopher Garza Jr. (144, third), Federico Apodaca (150, second), Raul Sanchez III (157, second), and Angel Leyva (285, champion) highlighted the Wolves finishers. Leyva capped it with a 15-9 decision over La Center’s Wyatt Eiesland for heavyweight gold.

Zillah pushed hard with depth of its own: Kaydn Cuevas-Schenk (third at 106) and Leonel Lustre (fourth at 106) both reached the podium, while Ryan Vader (138, second) and Trenton Richie (144, 5th) kept points rolling in. Senior Aiden Ford (215) delivered the Leopards’ biggest moment, pinning Montesano’s Felix Romero in under a minute to cap a 49-0 season and state title.

Cashmere standout Jance Novak (165) rolled to a major decision in the finals, finishing a 50-win sophomore year with gold. The Bulldogs also celebrated Mack Pell (126, second) and Jacoby Tait (175, third). Royal’s Shea Stevenson (157, third) and Cael Orth (157, fourth) gave the Knights back-to-back podium finishes, while Connell’s Eliuth Serra (132, third) and Naches Valley’s Wyatt Gutierrez (113, sixth) and Caige Coleman (150, fourth) kept the SCAC on the board. College Place had Parker Hodgen (190, sixth) place.

When the dust settled, four SCAC programs landed in the top 10 team standings — Wapato (first), Zillah (second), Cashmere (fifth), and Royal (ninth).

Torres, Clements, Garza and Newberry lead girls champs

In the combined 1A-2B-1B girls brackets, SCAC schools kept pace with gold-medal performances across the weights.

Kiara Torres (Granger, 100) captured the opener, beating Zillah’s Esperanza Alejandre in an all-league final. Royal doubled up with Sharon Arroyo (third) and Sophia Villafana (fourth) at 100.

Alexis Clements (Naches Valley, 110) earned her crown with a first-period pin. Royal’s Isabelle Barajas (third) also landed on the podium.

Abbygale Garza (Wapato, 155) dominated the final with a 15-0 technical fall, closing her sophomore season at 42-1.

At heavyweight, Aubrey Newberry (Ki-Be, 235) claimed the crown, beating Nina Siribun of Raymond/South Bend. 

Other highlights included Zillah’s Melanie Martinez (115, third) and Emmarae Tynan (145, third), Royal’s Lauren Jenks (135, second) and Madisen Christensen (170, third), and Naches Valley’s Michelle Walker (140, fourth).