Friday Harbor High School 2002-2003 Wrestling

SPORTS | FRIDAY HARBOR | WOLVERINE WRESTLING

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Marsh overpowers bigger foes for sixth-place medal

posted 02/24/03
Friday Harbor senior John Marsh battled opponents out-weighing him by nearly 30 pounds and managed to finish the Mat Classic on the finalists' platform Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Tacoma Dome. Marsh also triumphed against experience grapplers to place sixth in the 215-pound class.

"Being a second-year wrestler and placing at state is quite an accomplishment," said Friday Harbor coach Gordy Banry said.

Only two Friday Harbor wrestlers have finished higher than Marsh: Nate Prescott finished fifth and Nick Wayner also placed fifth.

Marsh defeated several opponents with considerably more experience -- most finalists start competing in middle school and some begin in elementary school. He also lost to the best of his class -- Anthony Finley of Inchelium, this year's runner up and Mike Lee of Ocosta (Westport), last year's 215 champ.

"The competition was tough here," Marsh said during the tourney. "I can't take any breaks."

He first turned out as sophomore, broke his collarbone early that season, but improved last year and excelled in his final season.

"I just wish John would have started as a freshman," Banry said.

After Marsh won the 215-pound title at the Class A/B Region 1 Meet, Friday Harbor Athletic Director Cal Johnson encouraged him to raise his expectation bar.

"My first plan was just to get to state," Marsh said. "Once we took first at regional Cal told me to reset my goals.... I wanted to take first and ended up taking sixth. If I wouldn't have set any goals, I don't think I would've finished so high."

Most of Marsh's foes not only possessed an experience advantage, they also packed on two dozen more pounds than him. Marsh weighed 188.2 pounds at the final weigh-in. Most of his opponents likely weighed right at 215 and some appeared to be pushing the 217-pound cutoff.

"I was probably the lightest in my weight class. "I'm glad I wrestled up with them," Marsh said.

"Some of these guys look like they're 275s .... I'm not used to so much size," Marsh said during the meet.

Marsh started the state meet by beating junior Kyle Welch of Columbia (Burbank) 13-9. Marsh fought Finley into the third round but the eventual 2003 champion pinnned him in five minutes, 15 seconds.

In the consolation bracket, Marsh overpowered Jon Hayse of Okanagon, pinning the freshman in 2:30. Marsh then flattened senior John Cerrillo of Mabton in 1:21. Lee canceled Marsh's bid for a third-place finish with a pin at 4:34 in the consolation semi-final. Knight gained an early advantage in the fifth-sixth match and rode Marsh to a 9-1 victory.

Results

Quarter-finals First Round

Timmy Aylward

112 - Kerry Green (Lake Roosevelt) pinned James Ausillio (FH).
130 - Timmy Alyward (FH) pinned Steve McGregor (North Beach) 2:47.
135 - Alex Zuinga (Granger) decision Mike Pretz (FH) 5-2.
140 - Adam Swedberg (Tonasket) defeated Tyler Cornell (FH) by disqualification.
145 - Jesse Cantin (Morton) decision Britt Banry (FH) 14-5.
160 - Kevin Bowers (Warden) pinned John Gossom 4:47.
171 - Stephen Rule (Toledo) pinned Chad Cymbalista (FH) 3:41.
189 - Andrew Heiner (Colfax) decision Taylor Stimpson 11-6.
215 - John Marsh (FH) decision Kyle Welch (Columbia - Burbank) 13-9.

Championship Quarter-finals

130 - Nick Brandenberg (Liberty Bell) pinned Timmy Aylward (FH) 1:44.
215 - Anthony Finley (Inchelium) pinned John Marsh (FH) 5:15.

Consolation First Round

112 - Patrick Schrader (Columbia - Burbank) pinned James Ausilio (FH) 1:38.
135 - Justin Lorton (South Bend) pinned Mike Pretz (FH) 2:57.
145 - Bryson Bates (Riverview - Kennewick) pinned Britt Banry (FH) :32.
160 - Mathew Spradlin (White Pass) pinned John Gossom (FH) 3:49.
171 - Travis Wiltse (Brewster) pinned Chad Cymbalista (FH) :40.
189 - Willie Bloomstrom (White Pass) defeated Taylor Stimpson (FH) 6-4.

Consolation Second Round

215 - John Marsh (FH) pinned Jon Cerrillo (Mabton) 1:21.

Consolation Semi-finals

215 - Mike Lee (Ocosta -Westport) pinned John Marsh 4:34.

Fifth-Sixth

215 - Ryan Knight (Raymond) decision John Marsh (FH) 9-1.

First page of Mat Classic photos

Second page of Mat Classic photos

Third page of Mat Classic photos

Marsh finishes sixth in state

posted 4:25 p.m. 02/22/03
In his second full year of wrestling, Friday Harbor senior John Marsh took sixth-place in the 215 lb division in the Mat Classic Class A. He lost by decision 9-1 in his last match of the tournament against Ryan Knight of Raymond.

Marsh pinned by last year's state champ

posted 12:30 p.m. 02/22/03
Friday Harbor wrestler John Marsh was pinned in the third period of his match against Mike Lee of Ocosta (Westport). Lee was the state champ in last year's 215 lb division. Marsh will wrestle one more time today. At 4 p.m. he will compete for fifth or sixth-place in the Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome.

Marsh pins opponent

posted 11:45 a.m. 02/22/03
Friday Harbor wrestler John Marsh (215) is guaranteed at least a sixth-place finish in the Mat Classic after pinning John Cerrillo of Mabton in the second period of his match today in the Tacoma Dome. He still has the potential of finishing as high as third. His next match is at 12:30 p.m against Mike Lee of Ocosta (Westport). Results of that match will be posted as soon as they are available.

Marsh advances to medal round

posted 8:20 p.m. 02/21/03
Friday Harbor senior John Marsh earned at least an eight-place finish in the 215 lb. weight division and has potential of finishing as high as third place tomorrow (Feb. 22, 2003) in the Mat Classic. The wrestler pinned Jon Hayse of Okanogan in 2:30. Saturday, Marsh faces John Cerrillo of Mabton in the Tacoma Dome.

"John's going to get a medal," said Friday Harbor Coach Gordy Banry. "John wanted it and he did it."

Anthony Finley of Inchelium pinned Marsh in 5:15 in Marsh's second match of the competition. Marsh defeated Kyle Welch of Columbia (Burbank) 13-9 in his first match. "I am just glad I am in the top eight and I will try to keep going," said Marsh. "Competition is tough here. Some of these guys look like they are 275ers. I am not used to so much size."

Friday Harbor wrestler Timmy Alyward was eliminated after Luis Martinez of Warden pinned him in 4:42 in Alyward's third match. Alyward won his first match by pinning Steve McGregor of North Beach in 2:47. In the second round Nick Brandenburg of Liberty Bell pinned Alyward in 3:31.

Friday Harbor wrestlers fall in second round

posted 5:60 p.m.
All eight Friday Harbor wrestlers lost their second matches at the Mat Classic. Seven got pinned, Taylor Stimpson lost by decision. Timmy Alyward and John Marsh are still competing in the consolation bracket. They won their first match of the competition.

Two wolverine wrestlers advance to quarter finals

updated 2:15 p.m. posted 12:45 p.m. 02/21/03
Timmy Alyward, (130) and John Marsh (215) advance to the quarter finals this afternoon in the Mat Classic in the Tacoma Dome. Marsh defeated Kyle Welch of Columbia (Burbank) 13-9. Alyward pinned Steve McGregor of North Beach in 2:47.

Six other Friday Harbor wrestlers enter their first consolation round: James Ausilio (112), Mike Pretz (135), Britt Banry (145), John Gossom (160), Chad Cymbalista (171), Taylor Stimpson (189).

Kerry Green of Lake Roosevelt pinned Ausillio in 34 seconds. Alex Zuinga of Granger defeated Pretz 5-2. Jesse Cantin of Morton defeated Banry 14-5. Kevin Bowers of Warden pinned Gossom in 4:47. Stephen Rule of Toledo pinned Cymbalista in 3:41. Andrew Heiner of Colfax defeated Stimpson 11-6.

Tyler Cornell (140) was disqualified in a controversial ruling in the match with Adam Swedberg of Tonasket. Swedberg swung his right arm around and caught Cornell's teeth. The referree saw teeth marks and called it biting and disqualified Cornell from the rest of the tournament.

Competition resumes at 4 p.m. today, Friday, February 21, 2003. We will post the results of those matches later today.

Tournament Schedule on WIAA Web site

Bracket for 130

Bracket for 215

Wrestling bonds Banry "family"

Friday Harbor wrestlers 'kick butt'; 9 to compete in Mat Classic

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