Five champs and a runner-up team

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, January 21, 2004

Alright, now they’re ready.

When five South Whidbey High School wrestlers won championships Sunday at the Klahowya Invitational Tournament, they began fulfilling the promise of what could be one of the best years of wrestling for the Falcons.

In one of their best tournament finishes ever, the Falcons placed just behind the host team to take second place on the strength of 11 placing wrestlers.

Winners for South Whidbey were senior Phil Schorr at 112 pounds, junior Tyler Rueth at 125 pounds, senior Conley White at 135 pounds, junior Jason Mannie at 140 pounds, and senior Ben Harris at 171 pounds.

Most of the championship matches were easy wins for the Falcons as Schorr, Rueth and White pinned their opponents, and Mannie earned a 15-0 technical fall decision over Mike Cool of Eatonville. Only Harris truly had to depend on points as he won his championship match against Andy Headman of Klahowya 10-4.

Rueth had the shortest championship bout, pinning Jim Berk of Klahowya early in the first round. Both Schorr and White put their opponents to the mat in the second round of their bouts.

Behind the winners were a number of top placers. Taking fourth place in consolation rounds were junior Nick Martinovich at 152 pounds, junior Sheridan Catlin at 215 pounds, and 275-pound Austin Hayworth, who made his placing in his first tournament appearance as a varsity wrestler for South Whidbey.

Another placer for the Falcons was junior Matt Errico at 160 pounds with a final bout victory to take fifth in the tournament. Junior Jason Gilberts also took fifth place, winning his last bout of the day at 189 pounds.

Also a placer was freshman Matt Long, who lost 11-0 to Ben Pierce of Olympia in his final bout of the tournament to take sixth at 145 pounds.