Reece, Velarde, Welker still have shot at first place in State wrestling


February 17, 2012 · Updated 11:01 PM 

TACOMA — Those with a shot at a State wrestling title have whittled down. Of the original 13 from the North Kitsap School District in the 2012 Mat Classic, three remain in the main bracket.

Kingston's Bobby Reece III (145) and Jack Welker (220) and North Kitsap's Jake Velarde (138) are still in the hunt for a first place finish at the two-day wrestling event.

Reece moved on to the semi-finals by defeating Cheney's Elias Mason 3-1 in OT. He wrestles Cole Riccardo tomorrow morning.

Welker defeated Sultan's Taylor Comfort (5-4) and now moves on to face Othello's Joey Gomez.

Velarde took out Selah's Kody Ergeson (11-2). He faces Centralia's Michael Stuart next.

Though the three are the only ones from NKSD with a chance, Kingston's Lindsey Barnhill (112) and North Kitsap's Brenden Best (285), Jake Sievers (113), AJ Milyard (145) remain in the consolation bracket for third/fourth place.


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