Sports
Renton Wrestlers Capture First League Title Since 1991
Samuel Nicholas' win secures league title; local teams look to districts next
Renton wrestling coach Keith Eager has wanted a Seamount League wrestling title since he last won it in 1991. He has come close many times. As he sat at the end of the chairs at Hazen High School Thursday night, Eager had to wait until the second to last match for his league title, with a 39-28 win over the crosstown rivals.
"Its been a long time coming," said Eager who is a 1983 Renton High graduate. "That's a lot of years to keep coaching wrestling to try to win a league title." Eager has been the head coach since 1992. "I was nervous in the match, it was tight, to Hazen's credit they brought their "A" game. They always do against us. It was a battle."
The night went back and forth with Renton winning the first bout when Alex Kalinin pinned Hazen's Erik Johannsen in the third period. Hazen went up 28-26 after Malik Haythorne won a major decision over Renton's Manuel Martinez 15-7.
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Renton took control when Kahali Crowl pinned Hazen's Josh Kluth in the 152-pound weight class in 1:40.
Samuel Nicholas secured the Indians' title with a 5-2 decision over Hazen's Jeremy Hazlett.
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"Our kids stepped up, we had one senior on the floor and several first time wrestlers," said Hazen head coach Rory Magana.
Results
106-Tony Pham (R) win by forfeit
113-John Estonillo (R) pinned Abdu M in 42 seconds
120-Zach Moore (H) pinned Jahcorey Briscoe 1:01
126-Derek Nichols (H) pinned Tony Vo 1:04
132-Anthony Hunter (R) technical fall Colin Kearney 16-0
138-Abraham Cuevas (R) decision Cameron Felt 5-3
145-Malik Haythorne (H) major decision Manuel Martinez 15-7
152-Kahali Crowl (R) pinned Josh Kluth 1:40
160-Samuel Nicholas (R) decision over Jeremy Hazlett 4-3
170-Abel Rodriguez (R) major decision over Jimmy Huynh 15-2
182-Alex Kalinin (R) pinned Erik Johannsen 5:30
195-Jairo Barahona (H) pinned Taison Guy 5:01
220-Paul Charbonneau (H) decision over Wilson Sy 3-2
285-Cole Thatcher (H) decision over Brent Ballesteros 4-0
Future wrestling dates:
Saturday, February 2
3A (Hazen) Districts at Interlake High
2A (Renton/Lindbergh) Districts at Renton
Girls at Elma
Saturday, February 9
3A Regionals at Kelso
2A Regionals at Bremerton
Girls TBA
Friday-Saturday, February 15-16
Mat Classic at the Tacoma Dome, all day
