Some BHS bright spots at ‘Klassic’

SILVERDALE — Going through a tough season isn’t easy. Going through it in the toughest individual sport in high school athletics is even harder.

But Bremerton, still dealing with youth and inexperience, has continued to make strides on the mat. Those advancements were evident last Saturday when the Knights, despite placing last at the Klahowya Klassic, put four members of the squad on the podium.

Highlighting the day’s efforts was senior Daniel Sawyers, who easily tore through the 130-pound division to win the weight.

“We’re doing good,” Sawyers said of the young Knights team. “I wish we were better for my senior year. But when I see my team losing, I get upset and get working.”

Sawyers didn’t waste any time in laying waste to his opponents, pinning Castle Rock’s Kody Lindeman in just 36 seconds. After topping Woodland’s Kevin Robertson in 2 minutes, 58 seconds, he easily won the title by pinning Anthony Wolfe, the tourney’s top seed at the weight form North Beach, in just 18 seconds.

Castle Rock won the eight-team tournament with 240.5 points while host Klahowya was second with 116.5 Bremerton finished eighth with 46.5 points.

“We only brought five kids,” BHS coach Jeff Barton said. “So we had a lot of good success today. The only unfortunate match was Billy (Richardson)’s at 103.”

Richardson, one of Bremerton’s top wrestlers this season, received a first-round bye before dominating Meadowdale’s Tony Wood, 15-0. That set up a final between Richardson and Parker Williamson, of Castle Rock. Williamson, the No. 1 seed, and Richardson battled back and forth, with Richardson, who had injured his arm the week before, building a small lead early. Williamson came back to tie it up at 7-7 however, forcing an overtime period that would see Williamson win on a take shortly after the extra frame began.

“But Billy’s match was a great experience,” Barton said. “He just didn’t quite do one thing at the end of the third.”

Richardson would take second at the weight, joined on the podium by fellow 103er Jordan Hernandez-Jones, who finished in third with a strong win over Wood. Wood, who was larger than the 93-pound Hernandez-Jones, built a steady lead before Hernandez-Jones caught him off guard in the third round, taking the pin at 4:39.

“That’s one thing about Jordan,” Barton said. “He’s only 93 pounds, but he’s a scrappy 93 pounds. That kid outweighed him and outwrestled him. But he hung in and caught him at the right moment.”

His brother, Michael Hernandez-Jones, also placed at 145, finishing fourth after falling to Karl Neumann of Klahowya 9-4 in the consolation final.

Overall, Barton said the tournament was another great experience for a team that needs it.

“They’re getting better,” Barton said. “We’re making some strides, but we’re still pretty young. We have a handful of kids that can get on to regionals.

“We’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

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