Final Regular-Season 3A Class Individual Rankings

By The PREDICTOR

Kurt Lang

Well, heck. I’m way behind. I wanted these to be out on Monday, and it’s Wednesday, and I should be doing other things. Oh well, 3A is a real trip this year, and I don’t know how things will end up in Tacoma. There are a few weight classes where one guy stands out, but several where you’ll do almost as weel to flip a coin as believe my guesses. I love that.

I’m sure, as always, that there are some wrestlers I’ve overlooked. If you want them recognized, send me their stats and information (wapredictor@hotmail.com) and I’ll see if I can make some revisions.

For those of you who have E-mailed me results, information, and opinions, my undying gratitude is yours. I have been so terribly busy that I haven’t had a chance to do anything but keep the database up-to-date. I apologize for not answering promptly, and I’ll try to catch up as soon as I can.

103

The top two on my list, Rogelio Diaz and Ricky Farmer, were both in 2A last season. I guess it’s not such a big move to 3A… Notice further down that I’ve made a special mention of Leilani Akiyama, the first female competitor to hold such an honor. Akiyama lost a close match in the finals of the Liberty Inivtational, 12-10, to Scott Growden of Hazen. She’s just a freshman, so we may see this Judo Champ on the top end of the list in the years to come.

Rank	Name	Year	School	Prev. at State
1	Rogelio Diaz	Junior	Wapato	5^th—2001
2	Ricky Farmer	Senior	Washougal	8^th—2000
3	Jason Pascua	Sophomore	River Ridge	No Prev
4	Nathan Decker	Freshman	Sedro-Woolley	No Prev
5	Travis Martin	Senior	Sequim	No Prev
6	Robert Arnestad	Junior	Peninsula	6^th—2001
7	Robert Foy	?	WF West	No Prev
8	Freddie Arroyo	?	Prosser	No Prev
9	Andy Austreng	Freshman	Kelso	No Prev
10	Brad Taylor	?	Eastmont	No Prev
11	Ryan Hoang	?	Columbia River	No Prev
12	Mike Woodruff	Junior	Bellingham	DNP—2001
13	Vince Popich	Senior	Tyee	No Prev
14	J.J. Westover	?	White River	No Prev
15	Mike Wong	Senior	Eastside Catholic	DNP—2001

Honorable Mention

Geoff Arnold, Aberdeen

Herley Beyene, Highline

Kyle Mimium, Mark Morris

Micah Perrin, Meadowdale

Kyle Pike, Anacortes

Kurt Olson, Clarkston

Ryan Zink, North Thurston

Special Mention

Leilani Akiyama, Newport (Bellevue)

112

Walker is the top of the class, for now. He beat Zach Morgan in a somewhat controversial final at the Inland Northwest Championships in Sandpoint. I think Morgan would like another shot.

Rank	Name	Year	School	Prev. at State
1	Jon Walker	Senior	Peninsula	5^th—2001, DNP—2000
2	Zach Morgan	Junior	Selah	3^rd—2001, 3^rd—2000
3	Paul Klein	Sophomore	White River	6^th—2001
4	Manuel Plata	Sophomore	Prosser	7^th—2001
5	Mi’chel McKinnon	Junior	Anacortes	No Prev
6	Mike Cady	Senior	Aberdeen	8^th—2001, 5^th—2000
7	Mikel Therien	Senior	Eastmont	DNP—2001
8	Brandon Shetlin	?	North Thurston	No Prev
9	Greg Abe	Junior	Renton	4^th—2001, 8^th—2000
10	Jeff Hatton	Sophomore	Aberdeen	DNP—2001
11	Juan Ortiz	Junior	Burlington-Edison	No Prev
12	James Standerfer	Sophomore	Clarkston	7^th—2001
13	DeSean Willis	?	Lakes	No Prev
14	Kevin Kimball	Junior	Cheney	No Prev
15	Josh Velasquez	Senior	Eastmont	5^th—2001

Honorable Mention

Jeff Hause, Mark Morris

Brandon Lytle, Washougal

Kris Nolan, WF West

Brian Seely, Meadowdale

Jonathan Tellez, Wapato

Vihn Tran, Highline

119

Aaron Pedeferri’s only loss on the season is a DQ in the final at the Timberline Invitational—to Craig Fawcett. These two guys are going to see each other again, I think, and settle things (for this year anyway--they’re only juniors).

Rank	Name	Year	School	Prev. at State
1	Craig Fawcett	Junior	Franklin Pierce	DNP—2001, 5^th—2000
2	Aaron Pedeferri	Junior	Cedarcrest	1^st—2001, 6th—2000
3	Kelly Austreng	Sophomore	Kelso	DNP—2001
4	Randy Cuellar	Senior	Lynden	1^st—2001, DNP—2000
5	Jeff Linder	Senior	Timberline	7^th—2001, 8^th—2000, 6^th—1999
6	Nate Uehara	?	River Ridge	No Prev
7	Ethan Sandelin	Freshman	Sedro-Woolley	No Prev
8	John Schriver	?	Centralia	No Prev
9	Rodrigo Velasquez	?	Eastmont	No Prev
10	Geoff LaGrandeur	?	Lynnwood	No Prev
11	Matt Roll	Sophomore	Clover Park	No Prev
12	Jason Garza	?	Wapato	No Prev
13	Brian Leslie	Sophomore	Issaquah	DNP—2001
14	Jairo Torres	Junior	Selah	DNP—2001
15	Matt Tobey	Senior	Anacortes	No Prev

Honorable Mention

Ryan Bamford, Liberty (Issaquah)

Jace Cutrer, Squalicum

Jackson Embly, Mercer Island

Joe Holland, Clarkston

Curtis Lett, Cedarcrest

Daren Mattingly, Timberline

Jeremiah Samaniego, Sunnyside

Zack Smith, Bainbridge

Steve Zedoff, Yelm

125

Teddy Herrera had an early-season loss in the semis at the Battle at the Border, but has won everything else since.

Rank	Name	Year	School	Prev. at State
1	Teddy Herrera	Senior	Wapato	3^rd—2001
2	Greg Ford	Sophomore	River Ridge	4^th—2001
3	Francisco Gonzalez	Senior	Hanford	8^th—2001
4	Mark Rowe	Senior	Liberty (Issaquah)	5^th—2001, DNP—2000
5	Matt Malyon	Senior	Franklin Pierce	5^th—2001, 7^th—2000
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