Anderson places second by one point in Modoc Classic

Eighteen schools participated over the weekend in the Modoc Northeast Wrestling Classic.

During dual competition on Friday, Anderson went undefeated – beating Modoc 45-33; Crane, Ore. 55-8; Lakeview, Ore. 62-12 and Mazama, Ore. 40-34.

On Saturday, the tournament moved to a 16-man individual bracketed. Mazama took first with 181 points, followed by Anderson with 180, Henley, Ore. was third with 123, Klamath Falls, Ore. 115 and Modoc with 106 points.

In the 138 pound weight class, Jose Raya defeated Oregon State placer Rowdey Well of Mazama (6-3) to win the tournament championship.

Raya scored an escape and two stalling points in the second round to take a 3-0 lead into the third round. Throughout the first period he had frustrated his Oregon opponent with tie-up control and pressure.

The third period saw the Mazama wrestler score his first points on a takedown midway through the period before Raya scored an escape and takedown of his own.

“Jose wrestled a very smart match,” said Anderson coach Don Williams. “He forced the match to be wrestled his way, which is why he won.”

Raya came into the day seeded fourth and defeated the No. 1 and 2 seeded wrestlers on his way to the tournament championship.

Also winning a championship was Cub Spencer Larsen, who defeated Alex McConnell of Lassen in the 152 pound weight class. Larsen and McConnell were both fourth place finishers in last year’s Northern Section Masters

Larsen’s opponent back-peddled most of the first period, which frustrated Spencer and caused him to try to force a leg attack. A mistake at the end of the first period allowed the Lassen wrestler to score a two-point takedown, and after a locked hands penalty, the score stood 2-1 at the end of the first period.

Late in the third period, with the score 3-1 in favor of McConnell, Larsen earned a takedown to tie the match and send it into overtime. Another takedown by Larsen in the first round of overtime won him the championship.

Other Cubs who brought home medals for placing in their weight class were Hayden Gilbert (113), Bud Johns (120), Alek Miller (132) and Bryan Swaggerty (182) with second; Aaron Evett (126) with third; Gage White (170) with fourth; and Levi Hewitt (160) and Bryan Cabral (170) took home fifth.

The varsity Cub grapplers will travel to Grants Pass, Ore. to compete against over 30 schools in the Grant Pass Invitational Friday and Saturday.