TACOMA — Half of the North Olympic Peninsula’s wrestling contingent remains alive at Mat Classic XXII after one day of competition, with three wrestlers still dreaming of a state crown.
Port Angeles’ Adam Raemer, Port Townsend’s Brett Johnson and Forks’ Cutter Grahn each went 2-0 to advance to the semifinals of their respective brackets.
Raemer moved on in the Class 3A 145-pound tournament after pinning Mercer Island’s Nate Beckett in the first round, then topping Enumclaw’s Chance Mitchell 7-3 in the quarterfinals.
Johnson advanced in the 1A 160-pound bracket with a pin of Montesano’s Dillon in the first round and an 8-4 points victory over Cole Stanger of Lake Roosevelt in the next.
Grahn scored a pair of points victories, first 10-0 over Rochester’s Mason Edlund, then 8-2 against Wahluke’s Austin Hudson to earn a spot in the 1A 119-pound semis.
Still standing in the consolation brackets are Forks’ Tanner House (2-1 in the 1A heavyweight division) and Port Angeles’ Nathan Cristion (2-1 in the 3A 189 bracket).
Port Townsend’s Kris Windle (152) and Ryan Unbedacht (135) were both day one casualties after going 0-2 in their 1A competitions.
It was the same story for 1A Forks’ Tyler Cortani (1-2 at 112), Dayne House (0-2 at 119) and Travis Petrovich (1-2 at 152).