Goldendale doubles up the wins in dual meet with TD, Washougal
Emily Cazares represents the Goldendale girls wrestling team during their Friday night meet under the lights at Goldendale High School.
Story by Anjelica Escalera
Goldendale Timberwolves went “under the light” on Friday, Jan. 26 as they hosted The Dalles and Washougal in a dual meet that started at 5 p.m.
Goldendale was coming off a win at the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference Champions held on Thursday, Jan. 24, and the team rode that momentum as they earned dual wins over The Dalles and Washougal.
It was a long but special night for the Timberwolves during their wrestling duels on Friday, Jan. 26. It was also a highlight for the seniors on the team, having been given a moment of the spotlight and a nice bittersweet goodbye.
The energy in the gym was high, people could be seen jumping around with excitement and surprise at the matches taking place. When talking with sophomore student and injured wrestler, Chloe, she said “I would love to be on the mat but just being here with the team is enough, it feels like I am on the mat with them, I am happy to be here to support my team.”
Goldendale took the lead with the first couple of matches then after slightly faltering, turned it around and ended the match winning 59 to 12. Afterwards, I had a comforting conversation with the head coach Chris Williams on how he thinks the team is doing and how he feels about upcoming events, saying “It was good to get going tonight, you know, they did well and are building really well. We are excited for Districts coming up, it has been a great season. It’s bittersweet coming to the ending.”
Friday’s meet was an “under the lights” competition on a single mat, wrestling under a spotlight, and heavy metal music being piped through the gym’s speakers for a capacity crowd of Goldendale fans. It’s fast becoming a tradition at the school.
Our Good Friend Mike Salsbury captured some stunning shots of the meet below:
Goldendale debuts their new wrestling mat at the under the lights meet on Friday. The spotlight match is a new event for the school, having started the tradition last season.
Aidan Minnie wrestles fiercely as his headgear slips around his neck on Friday. Earlier in the week he placed first in the 138-pound division at the league championships.
Goldendale wrestler Matthew Gray shows his dominance while trying to pin his opponent from a standing position on Friday.
Matthew Gray finished first place in the 150-pound division at the league championships the day prior.
Members of the Goldendale wrestling team whoop it up while watching a teammate win his match. Jumping and cheering is wrestler Raymond Holycross who had finished in first place at the league championships 157-pound division.
Goldendale wrestler Jeremy Rain shows his excitement after pinning his opponent on Friday under the lights at a home meet. Rain is a senior in his first season as a wrestler.
Storey Woodbury of Goldendale hugs his opponent after taking the win with a pin on Friday. He finished first place in the 144-pound division at the league championships last week.
Goldendale wrestler Bradly Seward hoists Jeremy Rain into the air after Rain had won a match on Friday in front of a big home crowd at Goldendale High School. Seward had finished in second place at the league championships in the 285-pound division.
Bradly Seward of Goldendale makes a heart symbol directed to the audience after pinning his opponent on Friday at the Timberwolves final home match of the year. Seward wrestles in the 285-pound division.
Wrestlers compete under dramatic lighting in a festive celebration of their sport.
The Goldendale wrestling team lines up before their Friday night match to celebrate their league championship and pose for photos in front of the home fans.
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The EWAC West League Championship Trophy sits on the scorer’s table during Friday’s meet, a reminder to Goldendale’s tradition of wrestling excellence.
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