The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

COLFAX – Waitsburg's Joe Adams will represent his team as district champion this weekend, as Waitsburg will send five wrestlers to the regional tournament in Colbert Saturday.

After two bye rounds, Adams, wrestling in the 182 pound class, pinned his opponent in the championship match, Mayson Payne, of Readan, at 4:15.

"Joe dominated this match," said Waitsburg coach Lanny Adams. "He had Mayson on his back for most of the entire first round."

Joe Adams will go into regionals as number one seed, with a strong chance to move on to the state tournament in the Tacoma Dome, beginning Feb. 16.

In the 285 pound class, Tyler Hoffman advanced to the championship match after beating Lind-Ritzville's Tucker Guiles by a 9-6 decision. However, against Hunter Dawley, of Reardan, Hoffman was pinned at 3:48. He moves on to regionals as second seed.

"Tyler tried a throw and almost got Hunter over, but got caught," said coach Adams.

At 160 pounds, Ky Adams also won his first-round match, pinning Reardan's Ozius Harden in 3:27. In the championship match, Adams lost a decision to Glenn Johnson, of Liberty, 4-2. He advances to regionals as second seed.

In the 152-pound class, Devin Newman won his first match, pinning Reardan's Riley Nikkola at 1:47. Newman then was pinned by Reardan's Justis Anderson at 0:51.

In his third match, Newman wrestled teammate DeJay Meyer, and won by technical fall, 16-0. Newman then took on Garrett Spurell, of Liberty, and was pinned at 1:28. He moves on to regionals as fourth seed.

In his first match, Meyer lost to Liberty's Spurell by technical fall at 2:10. After his loss to Newman, Meyer wrestled Reardan's Nikkola, and was pinned at 1:23.

"This match ended DeJay's high school wrestling career," Coach Adams said. "Having the opportunity to Coach DeJay from the first time he stepped on the mat his freshman year to now, I have seen many hurdles overcome by this young man."

At 138 pounds, David Just took on Lind-Ritzville's Dylan Lane, and won by pin at 1:38. Next, against Caleb Cole, of Reardan, Just was pinned at 1:44.

In his next match, Just pinned Nate Barney, of Colfax, at 1:59.

Wrestling for third place Just was awarded the match against Reardan's Nate Kieffer, by injury default. He advances to regionals as third seed.