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Newspaper Archive of
The Goldendale Sentinel
Goldendale , Washington
February 26, 2004     The Goldendale Sentinel
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February 26, 2004
 
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USE SUBJECT TO LICENSE AGREEMENT• REPRODUCTION, DISSEMINATION STORAGE, DISTRIBUTION PROHIBITED• PAGE 14 FEBRUARY t In front of thousands, Goldendale's Cody Hamilton (CENTER) prepares for the final round of his bout with state champion Lee Morrison of Okanogan during the 16th a~ al Mat Classic the Tacoma Dome last Friday. Story and photos by Greg Skinner, Sentinel news reporter Goldendale's wrestlers grappled tough at the state wresting championships in Tacoma last weekend. Junior Chas Warner wrestled five bouts during his second consecutive trip to the Mat Classic. Warner took 5th place in the 185-pound class by pinning three of his five opponents at the tournament. Cody Hamilton, another junior, 145-pound class. Hamilton won his clean style only to meet Lee Morrison in the second match. Morrison, the 2o03 state champion, retained the title a few bouts after beat- ing Hamilton, a loss that sent Hamilton into consolation rounds. Five members of the Timberwolf wrestling team made it to the regional tour- nament in Royal City last weekend; only Hamilton and Chas had the goods to go to state. Hamilton came into the season half- way through, a first- year wrestler. Despite being a rookie, Hamilton scored best of four athletes plowed , over in Morrisons path to the center podium. Hamilton went into the match trying to score and after gaining two points on a reversal was forced into a defense-driven match. "Defense is my best skill," Hamilton said. wrestled three bouts in the first round of competition in --W, / .... Chas Warner looks for advice during a against Jon Grewe of Libertyjast Saturday. In the 145-pound class wrestling is about speed and strength. Hamilton is on board with speed, but relies on technique rather than strength. Hamilton said he could not rely on strength. Before each of their bouts the boys went through their rituals: Hamilton on the practice mat moving fast, buzzing through moves, thinking of his opponent. Planning what do on the mat. Not far away Warner was napping. The bigger wrestler has a dif- ferent approach to the warm-up. "Little naps, just little ones," he said. As Hamilton rehearsed his physical match, Warner lay flat, arms folded back behind his head, working out his next contest. He was thinking of pinning his opponent. Warner's naps gave way to pacing each time Hamilton mov ed to the mat. Pacing that would last for 50 minutes. The solo mental approach before bouts is noticeably different than other wrestlers. But it's what their coach wants. Young wrestlers from other schools prepare before each round with their coaches battering and bending them. They pre- pare with other teammates working them through take- downs and picks, working through possible scenarios in a physical way. Warner and Hamilton's pre-match psychology ses- sions reflect their coach's phi- losophy of mental toughness. Omar Flores, Goldendale wrestling coach, says his approach is a mental one. By the time his wrestlers reach the state meet, Flores thinks they know what they need to do. He also wants them to have a good time doing it. Flores wants his wrestlers to be as good at losing as anyone win- ing. When this is all over, people are going to remember how the lboys handled themselves more than how the), performed, said Flores. "It's up to them." With the size of Goldendale's team, the wrestlers don't get the same kind of time against others in the same weight class and are relegated to get themselves into a performance mindset. In Hamilton's first match on Friday, he showed good speed and technique, beating Kyle Lapic of Bellevue Christian in a 9-9 decision. A complete reversal came in the next bout, though, with Morrison. Hamilton relied on defense as the state champ'i- on Morrison worked hard to pin him. Hamilton denied him the pin, but Morrison took the bout in a 9-2 decision Warner's approach on the mat is as different as his pre-bout ritual. There seems to be not one defensive bone in his body. When competing, Warner walks into the center of the 32-foot circle, looks into opposing eyes, shakes hands and attacks. The first match Warner went straight for a dou- ble leg takedown. Warner likes to pick his oppo- nents up and set them down gently before pinning them. He missed, but 3:32 later, Warner had out- scored Jared Little of Raymond 9-1, then pinned him. During his second bout, Warner pinned his opponent cleanly in the third round a,fter working him over for five minutes. Warner s next two matches got away from him, not going the way he had planned. Warner hoped to pin Zach Coggins, to "Take him fast." Instead, he lost. Flores said that, in a way, Warner is almost too polite, not quite mean enough for the intense sport that brought 800 wrestlers to the Tacoma Dome and sent more than one young man packing back to their corner, cD4ng from a loss. Referring to Warner's performance in the semi- finals, Flores said, "He's a little slow so far. He needs to get more charge." That charge came back in Warner's fifth bout. A few moments before the final bout started, Coach timeout Flores asked Warner how he was. Warner's response: "P**%d." Flores told Warner to relax, to have fun and enjoy the match. Warner walked out, shook hands and then pinned Kyle Welch, from Columbia, in just 53 seconds. Not quite as politely as his first two opponents. With the weekend tournament past, the season is over, but for both Wrestlers, there's more time next year. Hamilton and Warner will. return for their senior year and a fresh chance to be champion. Warner wrestled a senior in every bout, won or lost, at this ~ear's Mat Classic. None will e in his way next year. Cody Hamilton controls Kyie Lapic of the first round of wrestling a tthe state Chas Warner flips Jared Little, of Raymond, bout of the tournament. Warner went on to We're pleased to recent move to a new, location. Come visit us and show you what Hamilton spent time after his matches sitting with Flores watching .other wrestlers go through to the H&R Block Advantage championship rounds. 'I told about. 10-4 Sat. him, see this move, see that and before long he was point- ing out new moves to me." Said Flores. "He's learning." i i iiii i i i , IGN . DESIGN, OFFICES IN WHITE SALMON SIGNS " BANNERS ,, VEHICLE MARKINGS PRINTING . 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