WRESTLING: Tumaua, Blanton take first for Forks

January 18, 2024 1:30 am

By Pierre LaBossiere

RAINIER — Forks got first-place finishes from defending state champion Sloan Tumaua and Miley Blanton in wrestling tournaments this weekend, with several other Spartans making it to the championship matches in their weight classes.

The boys wrestled at the Sgt. Norton Memorial Tournament at Rainier High School on Saturday, coming in fifth out of 13 teams. In addition to Tumaua’s title at 285 pounds, three other Spartans made it to the championship in their classes.

Blanton took first at 120 pounds at the Lads and Lasses Tournament on Saturday a few miles north in Fife, with two of her teammates making it to the championship matches in their weight classes.

Tumaua won three straight matches, by major decision, pin and a close 4-3 decision over Ryder Cruse of Rainier in the finals.

Walker Rondeau finished second at 132 pounds. He won three straight matches by pin, then was pinned in the finals by Landon Ramos of Castle Rock.

Walker Wheeler was second at 150 pounds. He won two matches by pin, then was beaten in a major decision 12-2 by Noe Hinojosa of wrestling powerhouse Zillah in the finals.

Aiden Ivey was second at 157 pounds. he won with a pair of pins to get to the finals, then lost in a technical fall (17-2) to Daniel Washburn of Mount Baker, a 1A school.

Jesus Garcia Dominguez was third at 113 pounds. He went 3-1 on the day, winning all of his matches by pins. Samuel Lopez Rivera at 120 pounds, Brodie Fletcher at 126 pounds and Jon Parker Jr. at 175 pounds all finished sixth.

Forks finished with 123 team points. Winning the meet was Castle Rock with 226.5 points, while Zillah was second at 168.5.

Lads and Lasses

Blanton went 4-0 on the day to win her classification, winning all four matches by pins. Three of her matches ended in the first round.

Flora Horejsi was second at 105 pounds. She won two matches by decision, then was pinned in the finals by Elisabeth Norton of Shorewood.

Peyton Johnson was second at 120 pounds. She won three straight matches, all by pins, to make it to the finals, where she was beaten by Blanton.

Natalie Horejsi won two matches at 115 pounds and finished fifth.

Forks finished 11th out of 16 teams with 61 points. Winning the meet was Federal Way with 153.5 points.