Logan Bearss of Bethel came within one match of being Washington's top 152-pound class 4A high school wrestler for the 2013-14 season, finishing second in the Mat Classic state tournament last Saturday in Tacoma. Bearss was pinned by Brandon Brenenstahl of Rogers at the 2:48 mark of their championship match. Their showdown was a continuation of a rivalry that began in the regular season, as their schools compete together in the South division of the South Puget Sound League. Brenenstahl's victory Saturday avenged a loss to Bearss in the finals of the Region 4 tournament that was the final post-season step to the state tourney. This was Brenenstahl's last bid for a state title, as he's a senior. Bearss, a junior, will get another chance next season. Bearss' path to the finals over the two days of the state tourney at the Tacoma Dome began with back-to-back victories on Friday. He beat Hunter Hurley of Issaquah 6-1 in a first-round match, then narrowly decisioned Scott Bardell of Arlington 2-1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals Saturday, Bearss outpointed Rafael Ibarra of Mount Vernon 7-4 to advance to the finals against Brenenstahl, who pinned Blake Bishop of Chiawana in the other seminfinal match. Two other competitors from south Pierce County placed among the top eight of a weight class in the state tournament, and one of them did it in particularly dramatic fashion. Tyler Klein of Graham-Kapowsin earned fifth place in the 182-pound group by topping Josh Miller of Yelm 16-14 in overtime, leaving Miller in sixth place. Phillip Springsteen of-áBethel wound up fourth at 126 pounds, ending his run with a 4-0 loss to Union's Daniel Rice. Rice also defeated Springsteen, a sophomore, in the quarterfinals.
(Read more in the Feb. 26 print edition of The Dispatch)
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment