UKIAH — Eight Lower Lake High School wrestlers brought home six medals and a team award Saturday from the Ukiah Invitational at Ukiah High School.
In a field of almost 30 teams, Lower Lake finished second in the small-school division and fifth overall. Sutter Union was the top small school and the overall winner.
“Very good,” Lower Lake coach Ed Fuchs answered when ask to rate his team”s performance. “We”re trying to peak at the end of the season. The kids are making me very proud of them.”
Lower Lake”s medal take included two firsts ? by Brandon Painchaud at 134 pounds and Mike Warren at 222 pounds. Painchaud went 5-0 with four pins and a 8-2 decision over Trevor Silva of Windsor in the championship match.
“Since the King of the Mat (Jan. 14 in Windsor), he”s been looking good. He”s peaking at the perfect time,” Fuchs said.
Warren posted a 4-0 tournament record with one pin. He also beat a Windsor wrestler in the finals, taking an 11-7 decision. In the semifinals Warren beat a Montgomery wrestler who is seeded sixth in the North Coast Section.
Lower Lake had a shot at a third weight division title at 140 pounds where Dominick Dingess lost to a Sutter opponent by second-round pin in the finals. It was his only loss in four tournament matches. In fact, he won the other three by pin, including a win over the No. 1 tournament seed from Montgomery in the semifinals.
“He had a good day,” Fuchs said. “He”s placed at every tournament and this was his second time in the finals.”
Thomas Cross added a third-place medal at 174 pounds, going 4-1 with three pins. His only lost was a wild 12-10 decision to a Sutter opponent in the semifinals.
“That thing went back and forth,” Fuchs said. “It was a good battle all three rounds.”
Sixth-place medals went to Thaddeus Wetmore at 184 pounds and to heavyweight William Isaacs. One of Wetmore”s two losses was a double-overtime 2-1 decision.
Although he didn”t medal, Lower Lake”s Wayne Harris went 1-2 at 147 pounds, notching his first varsity win with a pin in his second tournament match.
Lower Lake hosts Kelseyville and Clear Lake in a Coastal Mountain Conference dual on Wednesday. If the Trojans win both, they”ll likely qualify for the North Coast Section Team Duals on Saturday at Lower Lake High School.
