State Champs are Starting Strong - By Tristan Farley

The Richland Bomber’s girls wrestling team is coming off a State Champion season. They have been preparing for the upcoming season since early in the summer break. As the first match grew closer, the expectations became higher with seeing the talent on the team. They had begun to warm up and practice minutes before the start of the season. After fully warming up, the team came together for a prayer and a bomber cheer. Led by one of the team captains, Savannah Thorpe, who is a senior and had a major role in last year's season. They lined up facing the opponents, as each wrestler and their opponent had their names called to shake hands. When a Kennewick Lions supporter was asked their expectations of the night, they responded, “Richland has been a strong team for the past years, but it would be a great start to the season to beat the defending State Champions.” After the National Anthem, they started with the 100lbs weight class. As the match began, Richland’s wrestler Alyzah Gonzalez had taken a shot at the Kennewick Lions wrestler, and she was able to get a take-down. The match had continued where Richland dominated and was able to win the match by a mercy rule, 15-0.

That match had put the Bombers up, 5-0 on team points. Next was a freshman on the team for Richland facing off against a junior for Kenniwick. The match was very quick, with only 17 seconds, and ended in a pin for Richland. With the pin in the match, it brought Richland’s total score to 11-0. They had to take a small break while the medical team cleaned the mats due to blood, but the Bombers cheered ‘Family’. Then, one of the senior captains, Jolie Ahyat, took the floor. When the match began, both sides were trying to gain control, but did not make any sudden moves. They were in a stalemate, and both wrestlers were trying to plan a move. Coaches on both sides were talking them through the match and helping them with the moves they thought would be best. The Lions wrestler, Sophia Turner, had taken down Ahyat, which led to her getting three points at the end of the first period. The Bombers had won the coin flip and chose neutral. Ahyat came out of the break aggressive and was able to get near fall points, making the match score 4-,3 Bombers ahead. For the rest of the time in the second period, no points were gained. But when the third period started, both teams came out to try and get a pin. Turner had taken down Ahyat to make the score 4-6, with around 80 seconds left. She was able to escape and make the score 5-6. With 45 seconds left, Ahyat made a shot at Turner’s legs, where she was able to pick her up just enough to put her off balance. Ahyat got three take-down points and was leading 8-6, where then it was a stalemate with no more moves being made, as both wrestlers had been out of energy. 

Richland was now up 14-0. In the next match, Kennewick had to forfeit because they did not have an eligible wrestler in the weight class. Score 22-0. Richland was pinned in the third round at the 120 weight class, making it 22-6. In the 125 weight class was the second senior captain, Savannah Thorpe. She was coming off a very good junior season and having high hopes for this year. A parent from Richland’s side said, “She is one of the most fun wrestlers to watch in her class because of her agility and quickness.” Thorpe was able to pin her opponent in the first round, even after getting taken down. She had a reversal, which scored two points. 2-3. Then Thorpe was able to get the opponent on her back, and it was over once that happened, with no time; she pinned Kennewick. The captain made the score 28-6, and it was looking very good for the Bombers. Richland was able to win the next two matches by pinning both in the second round. Score 40-6. The next two matches were dominated by Kennewick; they had pinned the Bombers in the 145 weight class and had won by points in the 155 weight class. Score 40-15. The 170 weight class was a close match ending in the third round by points in Richland’s favor. This put the score 43-18. In the next match, Richland had to forfeit, making the score 43-24 with the Bombers leading. Which happened in the very final match as well, scoring Richland its last points of the night. The final score of the first competition of the year was the Richland Bombers 49 and the Kennewick Lions 24. That was a great way for the season to start. Both teams' athletes and staff shook hands and then huddled up. Coaches congratulated the girls, and Richland ended with a loud “Bombers”.