Colfax wrestlers bag alternate shots

Two Colfax wrestlers battled all the way to the state brink Saturday in the big regional round at Kittitas but missed a top-five placing to qualify for the state finals. Both landed in sixth place to qualify as alternates and will head for the state Mat Classic in Tacoma to await a possible call to action.

The all-B state event begins with eight finalists, four matches, in the first round.

Colfax heavyweight Daython Maltone finished in sixth after sustaining a rib pull in his second match against Jesse Billups of ACH. Billups took a second-round pin on his way to winning the top heavyweight slot.

Maltone finished with a 2-4 loss to Spencer Nee of Wilbur-Creston-Keller, and a third-round loss on a pin to Gabe Miller of Reardan. He started the run with a second-round pin over Eric Herrera of Oroville.

Senior Justin King also finished in sixth after going up against Shawn Coleman of Liberty Bell two times at Kittitas. Coleman, who took a 4-19 win over King in their first match, won the fifth-place entry slot with a 6-10 win in their second match.

King started with a pin of Doug Hitch of Springdale and then pinned Nicholas Guerrara of Warden to stay in contention after his first loss to Coleman. He then pinned Austin Anderson of Kettle Falls and sustained a 2-12 loss to John Waters of Lake Roosevelt for the last-chance match with Coleman.

Brandon Arneson defeated Alvaro Gonzales of White Swan with a second round pin Friday to quality at number-five before the start of the Kittitas regional. He then lost to Cary Anderson of Reardan on a first round pin, defeated Davis Guttierez on a third round pin and lost to Walter Harris on a third round pin in a match which would have nailed the number-five state ticket. Arneson was then pinned by Alex Edwards of Warden for the alternate slot.

ST. JOHN/ENDICOTT contenders both finished 0-2 in the regional at Kittitas.

Thomas Newton lost a 7-12 decision to Tim Loch of Lake Roosevelt in his first match and 4-7 to Gallegos of Kittitas in his second match.

Rowdy Brown started in the number-six slot for the Eagles in the 113 class and was pinned by Gagliardo of Selkirk in his first match and by Joesph Pruneda of Warden in his second match.