Expectations were high for the Douglas High School wrestling team going into the Northern 4A Regional wrestling tournament Friday and Saturday at Hug High School.
The Tigers were on a roll, with more than half their line up placing the past three weeks at Clayton Valley, Alhambra and Sparks tournaments.
Over the weekend five wrestlers placed for Douglas and they finished sixth as a team. Three of the five will continue to the state tournament this weekend at Cimmaron Memorial High School in Las Vegas.
CJ Wynar, wrestling at 135, claimed the regional championship for his weight class by defeating Michael Artemis from Damonte Ranch High School in what was one of the most exciting finishes in recent history. After a scoreless first period which featured both the wrestlers taking shots at a takedown Wynar deferred choice to Artemis to start the second period.
The Damonte wrestler chose the bottom position and scored an escape halfway through the period to take the 1-0 lead. Wynar took the bottom position to start the final period and quickly escaped to even the score 1-1. Both wrestlers battled for position as time was running out, and with less that five seconds left in regulation Wynar score a takedown to secure the regional championship.
Douglas was represented at 130 pounds by Nico Barker. The Douglas junior was matched with Galena junior Jeremy Wilson.
Wilson got the initial takedown with a three point near fall to go up 5-0. Barker fought for an escape and the first period ended 5-1.
Wilson scored a reversal early in the second only to have Barker escape making it 7-2.
Wilson got another takedown and the second period ended 9-2.
Barker escaped early in the third period and followed with a takedown to close the score to 9-5. Wilson came back with his own escape, a takedown and a near fall to claim his second-straight regional championship.
In the consolation finals Douglas senior Tony Ferris was rematched with Spanish Springs 189 pounder Jeff Jorgensen. Jorgensen beat Ferris 13-9 in the championship second round. After three straight victories in the consolation bracket Ferris again met Jorgensen for the right to wrestle at the state tournament.
Ferris scored the first takedown and dominated the Spanish Springs wrestler finishing with a pin at 3:57 t bring home the third place medal.
Dillon Spates, 103 pounds, and Wes Peterson, 112 pounds, also medaled for Douglas.
Spates lost to fellow freshman Garrett Manoukian from Damonte Ranch in the 103 pound consolation round to place fourth. Peterson met Galena's Jake Gunzel at the 112 pound consolation match and took a 7-2 loss to place fourth.
The 4A state tournament begins Friday in Las Vegas. In the first round Douglas senior Wynar is the No. 1 seed from the north in the 135 pound class.
Barker, the 130 pound No. 2 seed from the north, will face Mojave's Jake Evans who is the No. 1 seed from the Sunset Region.
Ferris is scheduled to face Mojave's Trey McElhaney.
Both Barker and Wynar are first team all-region for their weight classes.
Wrestling begins 5 p.m. Friday and the finals are scheduled to begin 5 p.m. Saturday.
