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

On January 14 the Wahkiakum Mule wrestlers traveled up to Hoquiam for their girls and boys team tournaments.

"Hoquiam is a larger school, and the competition was fierce this year," said Mule Coach Matt Stacey. "Many wrestlers first had to win a pig tail match just to enter the tournament."

Arial Snodgrass was the Mules' lone contender in the girls division. After a tough day of wrestling, she earned fourth place in the girls' 145 bracket. Her next girls tournament will be districts on February 4 at Heritage High School. This begins the final road towards the girls state tournament in the Tacoma Dome.

The boys team found the competition at this tournament to be much stronger this year than last, Stacey said. Many classes had competition as stiff as the state tournament will be.

Senior Blayne Edwards (113) came home with another first place after some of his toughest competition of the year. His final match came down to a sudden death, over time take down, which he won.

Freshman Luke Stacey (120) fought his way to fourth place. Stacey’s final match of the day was against Tony Raup of Winlock, last year's second place winner at the state tournament behind Blayne Edwards. Stacey’s match came down to a referee's decision and a 7-9 loss.

Sophomore Mason Mackey (126) was the Mules’ final finalist of the day.

"Mason had an outstanding day defeating tough league competition Elijah Towery in his first match," Stacey said. "In his final match of the day Mackey finally found a wrestler as physically strong as he is, and had to settle for second place.

On Saturday, the Mule wrestlers will head to Kalama for the Rubber Chicken Tournament.