FHS grapplers finish 2nd at Pacific Classic

SPOKANE, Wash. — Flathead wrapped up the Pacific Northwest Classic on Saturday with three individual titles and a runner-up finish on the team front at University High School.

Joaquin Calderon (130), Shawn Lau (140) and Connor Thomas (285) claimed the individual titles for the Braves, who totaled 219 1/2 points. University High won the team title with a 244 score.

“All three had a great tournament,” Flathead coach Matt Owen said of his champs.

“Shawn got his first tournament win of the year, so did Connor. It was good to see them finally get a title.”

It was the second tournament title for Calderon.

Calderon decisioned Matt Jordan of Othello, Wash., 8-2 in the championship final.

Lau decisioned Brandon Riehl of Ferris High School of Spokane 5-2 in the finals, while Thomas pinned Kabe Fluaitt of Moses Lake, Wash., in four minutes.

Thomas and Lau both went 4-0 in the two-day tournament, and Calderon was 3-0.

Thomas won three of his matches by pins.

Flathead had six wrestlers in the finals to seven for University High.

Placing second for the Braves were Steel Hahn (135), Jeremiah Gaiser (140) and Trevor Beaman (189). Hahn lost by tech fall, Gaiser on a 7-5 decision and Beaman by major decision in the finals.

Flathead had 13 wrestlers competing and wound up placing 11 of them.

Caleb Allen-Schmid (150) was third, Cody Tally (125) fourth, Jake Kinkel (103) and Caleb Piasecki (119) were fifth and Travis Ozegovich (215) was sixth for Flathead.

Sixteen teams from three states competed.

“A little different competition for us,” Owen said.

“It was a great way to come off the break. We had a strong tournament and this will really help us for our push to state. It was a great warm-up for the Rocky Mountain Classic. We got exactly what we wanted out of it.”