PREP SPORTS WRAP: Decatur wrestling starts season with team title at Timberline tournament

A lot is expected of this year's edition of the Decatur wrestling team. The Gators entered the season as the second-ranked Class 3A team in the state, according to WashingtonWrestlingReport.com. Fellow SPSL 3A Division member, Enumclaw, are the top-ranked team.

By Casey Olson • December 3, 2012 5:37 pm
Decatur senior Nick Karis finished second in the Class 3A 160-pound bracket a season ago
Decatur senior Nick Karis finished second in the Class 3A 160-pound bracket a season ago

A lot is expected of this year’s edition of the Decatur wrestling team. The Gators entered the season as the second-ranked Class 3A team in the state, according to WashingtonWrestlingReport.com. Fellow SPSL 3A Division member, Enumclaw, are the top-ranked team.

Decatur started its season in impressive fashion Saturday with a win at the  16-team John Birbeck Classic at Timberline High School. The Gators racked up 177 points to outdistance second-place Prairie.

Decatur picked up three individual championships Saturday from Leviticus Arispe (120 pounds), Nick Karis (182) and Rowland Gaydosh (195). Arispe was dominant with three-straight pins, including a 5:34 fall over Will Treadwill in the 120-pound final.

Karis, who finished second in the state at 160 pounds last season, beat his teammate, Spencer Smith, in the championship, 14-5. Gaydosh, who was also second at 170 pounds a year ago, beat Timberline’s Tanner Risk in the 182-pound final, 7-1.

Decatur also got second-place finishes from AJ Sarno at 160 pounds, Christian Aragon at 145 and Isaiah Diggs at 138.

In terms of individual rankings by WashingtonWrestlingReport.com, the Gators have six wrestlers ranked in the top-seven in their respective weight classes, led by Karis and senior Kyle Gleed. Both Karis (160) and Gleed (285) are top-ranked in Class 3A.

Gaydosh is second-ranked at 170 pounds, Tysten Dawson is fourth-ranked at 113, Brandon Zimmerman is seventh at 152 and Smith is the third-ranked 182-pounder.

Federal Way

The Eagle girls finished 11th at the 24-team Yelm Girls Tournament Saturday. Senior Bianca Arizpe led the way for Federal Way with an individual championship in the 124-pound bracket.

Arizpe, who wrestled at state a season ago, dominated in her three matches Saturday, pinning Elma’s Evelyn Lafferty in the opener and Burlington-Edison’s Casandra Becerra in the semifinals. Arizpe then won an 18-3 technical fall over Washougal’s Haven Camden in the championship.

Beamer

The Titans kicked off their SPSL South season with a 66-21 win over Curtis Wednesday night. Beamer got pins from Brian Dykman at 126 pounds, Haftom Tafere (138), Isaiah Belle (145), Blake Hansen (152) and Mitchell Owens (160).

Gymnastics

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders swept a four-team SPSL meet Wednesday. The Raiders finished with 156.350 points, followed by Auburn (141.6), Tahoma (140.45) and Kent-Meridian (136.65).

Jefferson was led by Kelsey Barrett, who won the all-around with 32.5 points. Barrett also won the uneven bars with a 7.85 and her teammate, Danielle Poltz won the beam with an 8.4.

Beamer and Federal Way also opened their SPSL seasons Wednesday. The Titans finished with 127.90 points and the Eagles tallied 126.10. Rogers won the meet with 148.25 points and Kentlake finished second with 153.35.

Tia Thomas led the way for Federal Way by finishing second in the floor exercise with an 8.45.