After an extremely successful season, Kent-Meridian’s Amos Daigbe tumbled 11-5 to Union’s Alex Berganger for the 170-pound title at Mat Classic XXVI at the Tacoma Dome on Saturday.
The Royals’ sophomore wrestler seldom has tasted defeat on the mat.
“I have to deal with adversity,” Daigbe said after the match. “Even though I lost, I accomplished something.”
On the mat, Daigbe appeared reserved in his motions, and Coach Todd Owens said that he thinks Daigbe was still getting used to competing at a high level.
“When he’s on top of the world, he’s fearless,” Owens said after the match. “He’s learning how to be in a big match. That’s part of the growing process.”
Daige went on a spree, capturing three lopsided decisions, including a dominating 18-7 major decision over Lewis and Clark’s Dakota Numbers in the semifinals.
In the finals, Berganger, a junior, took command early, delivering a takedown and a three-point nearfall in the closing seconds of the first round. He later added five points with a takedown and a nearfall for an 11-2 lead in the third round.
In the 285-pound championship, Kentridge’s Daniel Vi lost to Puyallup’s Trent Nivala by fall at the 5:09 mark. Vi handled Arlington’s Tyler Lindberg by pin in the first round, defeated Evergreen of Vancouver’s Austin Wright by a 6-2 decision in the second round and dispatched Lewis and Clark’s Noah Buckley in the semifinals, 9-5.
Other local placings:
Kentridge’s Derek Freitag was fourth at 106 pounds, having dropped a 3-2 decision to eventual champion Trey Long of Moses Lake.
Kentlake’s Josh Beckler was eighth at 152 pounds, winning two of his five matches, including a dramatic 1-0 decision in a second-round consolation bout against Ferris’ Elijah Ross.
At 220 pounds, Kentlake’s Jon Yarbrough took sixth, splitting six matches. He dropped a 12-4 decision to Heritage’s Tristan Bridges for fifth place.
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PHOTO BELOW: Kentridge wrestler Daniel Vi grabs a respite of air while wrestling Noah Buckley of Lewis and Clark at the Mat Classic. Ross Coyle, Kent Reporter
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