The 18-member Neah-Kah-Nie High Pirates boys’ and girls’ wrestling teams concluded their regular season schedule with some wins to build momentum for the upcoming district tournament.
The Pirates, guided by third-year coach Alejandro Quintana, had their final home meet on Senior Night, January 30, in a five-team dual event with Seaside, Warrenton, Knappa and Waldport. Seniors Jeremiah Miller, Angel Gonzales and Alexandra Aguinaga were honored for their contributions to the Pirate wrestling program, while accompanied by their parents in a festive ceremony at Neah-Kah-Nie High School in Rockaway.
“We had a good showing in our dual meets with the other teams and it was good seeing the three seniors each getting at least one win on Senior Night,” said Quintana.
Miller and Gonzales both had a good day in the final home meet of their Neah-Kah-Nie High School career as they each won boys’ matches. Miller won two-out-of-three matches in the 138-pound weight class and Gonzales won one match in the 134-pound division. Aguinaga, one of three Pirate girls’ wrestlers, won two matches in the 130-pound class.
The Pirates then competed on back-to-back days as their final regular season tournament was January 31, in the SD1 regional duals at Yamhill-Carlton High School with Banks, Rainier, Dayton and Riverside. The Pirates lost by just three points in a close dual with Rainier and they also lost to Banks. The Pirates won duals versus Riverside and Dayton.
“They all had a pretty solid showing at Yamhill-Carlton and I was pretty happy with their performance,” said Quintana. “Now we’re just going to focus on getting ready for districts.”
The trio of Miller, junior Nathaniel Tinnes (175 pounds) and Aguinaga had a strong showing at Yamhill-Carlton. Miller won three-out-of-four matches, Tinnes won two-of-three matches and Aguinaga won three matches. Freshman Lakyn Wilkinson won one match in the girls’ 155-pound division.
The Pirates will compete in the Class 3A District Tournament February 9 at Dayton High School. The top-four placers in each weight class from Saturday’s district tournament will qualify for the state tournament February 22-23 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.
“I think if Jeremiah, Nathaniel, Samuel Lommen (215 lbs.), Alexander Lessor (175 lbs.) and Gage Wilkinson (132 lbs.) have a solid performance at districts, they’ll have a good shot at going to state,” said Quintana. “We’re hoping that those guys along with our two girls, Alexandra and Krista Bozley, will have a chance to go to state and continue wrestling for a couple more weeks.”
Bozley, a junior, has enjoyed tremendous success this year as she has lost only four matches this year in the 115-pound class. The Pirates girls’ squad will compete at the February 17 district tournament at Scappoose High School.
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