The wins on the mat just keep coming for Kent-Meridian’s Nick Lemmon.
So do the titles.
Lemmon, who is in just his third year of competitive wrestling, snagged his second tournament title in as many weeks on Saturday. Kent-Meridian’s standout 160 pounder ripped through his opening two matches at the Tahoma Mat Classic, working pins in each bout. Lemmon advanced through the semifinals on an injury default, then held off Tumwater’s Riley Prentice for the championship.
A week earlier, Lemmon grabbed gold at the Willie C. Stewart Invitational. Lemmon, who is ranked seventh among Class 4A wrestlers in his weight class, advanced to the state tournament last winter in just his second season in the sport. The championship at the Tahoma Mat Classic was Lemmon’s fourth tournament title of the season. With the wins, he improved his overall record to 26-3.
Lemmon, however, wasn’t along among local champions on Saturday.
Down the road at the Jaguar Invitational at Emerald Ridge on Saturday, Kentwood’s Ruben Navejas (103 pounds) continued his dominance in the lightweight division. Navejas, the defending Class 4A state champion, barely broke a sweat, pinning his first two opponents before ripping apart Kelso’s Josh Newberg to a 16-0 technical fall in the title match.
Navejas was joined atop the podium by teammates Jose Hernandez (125) and Nathan Herrick (285). Hernandez worked a 7-4 decision over Decatur’s Tyler Phelps for the title. Herrick earned an 8-0 major decision over David Meagher of White River.
It’s Hernandez’s first tournament title of the season.
Kentwood brought home third place from the tournament with 137.5 points. White River won the tournament (191 points) followed by second-place Kelso (146.5).
Kentlake also jumped into the championship mix on Saturday at the South Kitsap Invitational. Kentlake’s Tyler Potts (125 pounds) pulled out three tough matches en route to winning his respective weight class. Potts, who won his first two matches 9-4 and 9-3, remained consistent, putting away Wes Wynn of Peninsula 9-8 for the title.
Sean Cavanaugh (145) added a second-place finish for the Falcons while Ben Ritchie (152) took third. Overall, Kentlake took third place with 134.5 points. South Kitsap won the tournament with 237 points followed by North Mason at 142.
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