SEQUIM — The granddaddy of all North Olympic Peninsula prep wrestling tournaments is scheduled for Saturday at Sequim High School.
The 15th annual six-team Rainshadow Tournament starts at 10 a.m. on four mats in Rick Kaps gym.
The event features area teams Port Angeles and Port Townsend as well as host Sequim.
Sequim archrival Port Angeles, ranked No. 19 in state, is the favorite to win the event.
The Roughriders are 2-0 in the Olympic League and 6-0 overall after ripping North Mason 49-18 on Wednesday night.
Port Angeles features five wrestlers who are currently ranked in the top 10, including Kody Steele at 152 pounds, Kacee Garner at 160, Brian Cristion at 182, Zach Grall at 195 and Cory Roblan at 220.
Although the Bulldogs were manhandled by Port Angeles this week, they are expected to have the best shot to give the Riders a run at the Rainshadow team championship.
The Bulldogs have a lot of strength in the lower weights, led by defending state champion Zac Joaquin at 120.
Joaquin showed his strength by beating Ozzy Swagerty, a standout wrestler for Port Angeles, 8-4 in Wednesday’s dual meet.
Other North Mason wrestlers to watch Saturday are Rene Gaspar at 126 and Brian McCarty at 145. All three are expected to contend for individual gold medals at Rainshadow.
On Wednesday, Gaspar pinned Tyler Philp in 29 seconds while McCarty pinned Michael Ahrens in 1:47.
Sequim, meanwhile, features six seniors, including powerhouse co-captains Dakota Hinton at 170 and Clay Charley at 285.
“Our best hopes for gold rest on co-captains Charley and Hinton,” Sequim coach Len Borchers said.
Dakota is 18-4 on the season with 12 pins. His only losses have been close decisions to top-five talent.
Clay is 18-6 on the year.
Other Sequim seniors include Cole Morgan at 126, Luke Mooney at 138, Cody Field at 145 and Austin Leach at 182.
Mooney has a 16-9 record while Field is a returning regional participant.
Morgan is 9-10 “and is getting better every week,” Borchers said.
Leach is a transfer from the state of Georgia. “he will give everyone a solid match,” Borchers said.
The Sequim coach said he is expecting to get strong performances from all of his wrestlers.
“Our kids always seem to step it up a notch at the Rainshadow,” Borchers said.
Port Townsend, Bremerton and Clover Park will round out the six-team tournament.
Wrestling will continue throughout the day with the finals scheduled to start at about 3 p.m.