Mat Classic XXXIIII recap: Mead (3A) and Toppenish (1A) boys have comfortable leads, but other team title races too close to call

Here is a quick-hit recap of the Day 1 highlights from Mat Classic XXXIII, the state wrestling championships in the Tacoma Dome:

CLASS 4A

Team leader(s): Chiawana 80.5 points, Sunnyside 79.0.

Returning champions alive for repeat bid: Isaiah Anderson, Chiawana, sr. (195) - Won both matches by pin in first round.

Big upset: Top-ranked 4A heavyweight contender Curtis Hill (No. 3 overall) lost to Kentwood's Zhumali Chakhalov, 6-5, in the 285 quarterfinals.

Skinny: It's a two-school chase - and it should come down to the wire. The two-time defending 4A champion Riverhawks have eight wrestlers in the state semifinals; Sunnyside has five.

CLASS 3A

Team leader(s): Mead 136.5 points.

Returning champions alive for repeat bid: Kenndyl Mobley, North Central, sr. (126) - Won one match by pin, other by decision; Q’Veli Quintanilla, University, jr. (145) - Won both matches by pin in first round; Alex Rapelje, Edmonds-Woodway, sr. (152) - Won both matches by pin; Christopher Hamblin, Mountain View, sr. (170) - Won both matches by pin in first round.

Big upset: None.

Skinny: It's difficult to believe it's nearly been 30 years since the Panthers won a Mat Classic title. The GSL champions are well on their way with seven combatants in the final four, including top-ranked Jakob Conners at 220.

CLASS 2A

Team leader(s): Orting 91.5, W.F. West 80, Othello 78.5, Selah 78.

Returning champions alive for repeat bid: Zach Lopez, Shadle Park, sr. (132) - Won both matches by pin; Gabe Smith, Pullman, sr. (152) - Won one match by pin, other match by decision.

Big upset: Daniel Matagi, 2A's top-ranked heavyweight from W.F. West (and No. 2 overall), was disqualified for an illegal move in his opener against Othello's Mason Perez.

Skinny: The score might be close right now, but the Cardinals' top-end firepower is set to light this tournament on fire. They have six wrestlers still alive in the winner's bracket - and 10 overall.

CLASS 1A

Team leader(s): Toppenish 164.5.

Returning champions alive for repeat bid: Nathan Gregory, Deer Park, sr. (126) - Had bye in first round, and won second match by pin; Horacio Godinez, Toppenish, sr. (138) - Had bye in first round, and won second match by pin; Miah Zuniga, Toppenish, jr. (145) - Had bye in first round, and won second match by decision; Abel Nava, Toppenish, sr. (160) - Had bye in first round, and won second match by pin.

Big upset: None.

Skinny: The Wildcats wanted to set history by becoming the first school to break 300 points in a 16-wrestler-per-bracket Mat Classic. Well, they might eclipse that with ease as 15 of their 19 entrants are in the final four.

CLASS 2B/1B

Team leader(s): Granger 127.5, Tonasket 117.5.

Returning champions alive for repeat bid: Oscar Alvarez, Granger, sr. (113) - Won first match by pin, other match by decision; Waylon Thomas, Tonasket, sr. (132) - Won both matches by pin in the first round; Waylon Wilson, Tonasket, sr. (138) - Won first match by decision, other match by pin; Kevin Sanabria, Tonasket, sr. (145) - Won first match by pin, other match by decision; Conan Northwind, Granger, jr. (170) - Won both matches by pin in the second round;; Gage Cook, Granger, sr. (285) - Won first match by pin, other match by disqualification.

Big upset: Kalama's Abram Foreman, a state runner-up in 2020 and 2B/1B's top-ranked wrestler at 160, was pinned by Tonasket's Chris Rodriguez in the semifinals.

Skinny: The reigning champions (1A Granger with seven, 2B/1B Tonasket with six) send a combined 13 wrestlers to the championship finals, but face off just once - at 145. If it's close at the end, two-timer Cook should close the door at 285.

GIRLS

Team leader(s): Toppenish 97, White River 85.5.

Returning champions alive for repeat bid: Isabella Morales, Toppenish, sr. (100) - Won both matches by pin in the first round; Alivia White, Marysville-Pilchuck, jr. (190) - Won both matches by pin in the first round.

Big upset: Federal Way's Kayla McKinley-Johnson, the 100 state champion in 2020 and ranked as the No. 4 overall wrestler by SBLive WA, was pinned in her 105 quarterfinal by Clarkston's Caila Rice (3:54).

Skinny: The Wildcats are closing in on their first girls team title, but will have to fend off the defending champions to do it. Toppenish has five of its eight wrestlers in the semifinals, while White River has four of its nine still alive in winner's brackets.

(Photo by Vince Miller)