Wrestlers face bumpy road en route to the Tacoma Dome

Five Camas Papermakers and two Washougal Panthers will have the opportunity to wrestle for a state medal Friday and Saturday, at Mat Classic XXIV inside the Tacoma Dome.

Tyler Weiss settled for second place at 132 pounds in the 3A regional tournament last weekend at Bonney Lake High School. Weiss looked good in victories over David Boone of Auburn Mountainview and David Griffith of Capital, but Dillon Harris of Yelm got the best of him in the finals by the score of 2-0.

“It was a great match for Tyler against the number-one ranked wrestler in the state,” said Camas head coach Glenn Hartman. “He only gave up one take down and hung with that guy the whole time. He was really disappointed, but I think he learned a lot from that loss.

“If Tyler can find his comfort zone and wrestle the best that he can, he can make it to the finals,” Hartman added. “He’s such a good guy and a hard worker, and we’re really going to miss him. I know he wants to have a good weekend, and we’re going to do everything we can make sure he’s ready.”

Camas sophomore Taryn Lommasson also finished second in the 106-pound bracket of the girls region three tournament Saturday, at Castle Rock High School. She defeated Maritza Bravo of Centralia 9-0 and Tristen Williams of Forks 14-6, but lost to defending state champion Rachel Archer of Winlock in the finals.

Before Washougal freshman Haven Camden could even think about wrestling in the Tacoma Dome, she had to find a way to get by Kelso’s Mariah Horton in the first round of the 124-pound bracket. The true test of endurance lasted into quadruple overtime, when Camden finally pulled off a stunning 8-7 victory.

Camden defeated Union’s Kira Kelsey 15-10 in the semifinals, before losing to Kelso’s McKenna Emmert in the finals. Erin Locke will join Camden at state after she beat Jamilah Ahmath of Rochester 2-0 for third place at 130. Washougal teammates Braman Warren (112), Matt Wilson (152), Jessica Biron (155), Stephen Camden (160) and Tyler Purkeypyle (195) all won their last matches to become fifth-place state alternates.

Camas sophomore Marcus Hartman took third place at 113. He bested Andrew Ramirez of Lakes 9-6 to qualify for state, and then topped Kelso’s Albundio Victoriano 5-3 in the consolation finals. Junior Vince Huber finished fourth at 170. He won four matches in row, including a 7-6 victory over Enumclaw’s Kelyn Wallen, to get to state. After losing to Yelm’s Dakota Benson in his first match Friday, Bryant Elliot won three matches Saturday to punch his ticket to state as a freshman. Elliot got the best of Benson in the rematch for fifth place at 106.

“He earned a take down and a reversal to force overtime, and then got the takedown to win the match,” said coach Hartman. “He was tenacious and determined, and improved so much during the year.”