Liberty Bell’s wrestling season is in full swing, with girls and boys both seeing action at events in other gyms before coming home to wrestle Tuesday night (Dec. 10).
Two of three members of the boys’ team participated Saturday (Dec. 7) at the Pioneer Invitational Tournament in Omak. Bodie Paul (170 pounds) took first place at the tournament, defeating Tonasket’s Austin Brock 6-5 in the final match, “which was both exciting and fun to watch,” coach Jonathan McMillan said.
Paul pinned his first opponent, Ozzy Christoffersen of Cascade.
Cody White (132) lost his first match in Omak, with opponent Riley Vanatta — a former state champion from Tonasket — getting the pin. White came back to pin Okanogan’s Richie Meyers in his second match, but lost 9-1 in his third and final match to Kessler Fjellman of Omak.
On the girls’ side, Mariah Paz (110) wrestled Saturday (Dec. 7) at the Ladycat Kickoff Classic at Eastmont High School. She went 3-2 in her five matches, coach Jason Newman reported.
“Both her losses were to state tournament participants from last year, one of them a state medalist,” Newman said.
Paz, a freshman, defeated wrestlers from Tonasket, Hermiston (Oregon) and Wenatchee, her coach said.
The wrestlers’ first event, on Wednesday (Dec. 4), was the Okanogan Jamboree — a warm-up for the rest of the season.
“The matches are short rounds just to get the hang of it going into season, and see what we need to work on,” Newman said.
All four wrestlers participating in the Jamboree fared well, their coaches said.
Cody White (132) and Paul (160) won all three of their matches.
Paz (110) lost her first match, 3-0, to someone who competed at state last year. She won her other two matches by pins. Shelby White (140) won her first two matches. Her third and final match ended in a 0-0 tie after one overtime.
After Tuesday’s home mixer, the girls are traveling to Warden High School for a tournament on Saturday (Dec. 14). The boys’ next tournament isn’t until Dec. 20-21 at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene.
