The Wahkiakum County Eagle - Established as The Skamokawa Eagle in 1891

The Wahkiakum Mule wrestling team's week started with a four-way duel in Astoria with the host, Ilwaco and R.A. Long.

The teams faced each other straight up, and forfeitures in weight classes without wrestlers hurt the Mules in proper team scoring.

"Scoring the nine weight classes the Mules were able to compete at leaves a much different result," said Coach Matt Stacey. "As an example, in the nine weight classes the Mules matched up against R.A. Long's varsity, the win/loss record was 6-3, with almost all the Mules' wins by pins."

The Mules had a solid day of competition Saturday at the Warrenton Invitational, with three wrestlers winning championships.

"With 10 teams invited to wrestle in an eight-man tournament, the brackets ended up full of solid competitors," Stacey said. "Junior Mason Mackey (145 lbs.) quite likely had the most dominant day of all the wrestlers at the tournament. He won his finals match with a technical fall--a 15 point lead--against a tough wrestler from North Beach."

Sophomore Alex Johnson (132 lbs.) won his finals match with a pin, and junior Nate Cothren, 170 lbs., "won an intelligently fought finals match," Stacey said.

Other Mules winning medals were Luke Stacey, fourth at 132 lbs., Trystan Mendez, third at 182 lbs., and Ben Vasion, fourth at 195 lbs.

The Mules host their annual Down River Challenge tournament this Saturday, 9 a.m.

Participating schools will include Warrenton, Knappa, Chief Leschi, Pomeroy, Tacoma Baptist, Ocosta, North Beach, Mark Morris junior varsity, R.A. Long, Clatskanie, Harbor (Raymond, South Bend and Willapa Valley), Adna, Castle Rock and Wahkiakum.

Note: Stacey announced that the youth wrestling season will start in January; registration will be January 3.