Auburn wrestlers grab placings at Mat Classic XXIV | Prep boys wrestling

Brian Alonzo and Tilden Sansom led the way for Auburn, grabbing state placings at the Mat Classic XXIV 4A state championships last weekend.

Alonzo finished fourth at 106 pounds, bettering his fifth-place finish at last year’s championships.

“Even though he’s disappointed he’s not first, he’s the best-finishing senior,” Auburn coach Dennis Herren said.

Alonzo qualified for the ORCA Senior All-Star Dual on March 10 at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Ore., featuring the best wrestlers from Oregon, Washington and California.

“He’s already getting ready,” Herren said. “He’s already out going for runs to get ready.”

Sansom, a senior, repeated his finish from last season, taking seventh at 152 pounds with a 8-4 victory over Emerald Ridge’s Cayle Williams in his final consolation match.

Also competing but not placing at the Tacoma Dome for Auburn were junior Josh Tate (152 pounds), junior Seth Mizoguci (160), junior James West (182), senior Stephen Heinze (170) and sophomore Tyson Gaillac.

“I’m really proud of them,” Herren said. “I think the Trojans really did rise above expectations at league and regionals, and then surprised everybody to come to the Dome.

“It was a true taste of sensory overload for them – the crowd, the lights, the sound that echoes in your head gear,” Herren said. “It was a chance to taste a higher level of pressure. They’re already setting goals they want to come back and meet, whether it’s in the weight room or freestyle wrestling over the summer.”

ALSO: Auburn Riverside’s 285-pound sophomore Larkin Williams and 145-pound senior Nate Mead also competed but did not place at Mat Classic XXIV.

 

Contact Auburn Reporter Sports Reporter Shawn Skager at sskager@auburn-reporter.com or (253) 833-0218, ext. 5054.

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