Decatur's Bressler wins wrestling tournament

By COLE COSGROVE

Associate editor

Decatur junior Kyle Bressler won the 189-pound weight class of the prestigious Pacific Coast Championships last weekend in Vancouver, Wash.

The tournament featured top teams from Washington, Oregon and California.

“It really prepares you for state,” Bressler said. “Some weights are packed with three state champions. If you do well at this, you’ll do well at state.”

In the finals, Bressler beat Jake Cranford of Clackamas, Ore., who was third at the national Greco Roman Championships last summer, 3-0.

“It was awesome, the way they set it up with spot lights on you in the finals, everybody was screaming,” Bressler said. “It’s an awesome feeling, especially because it’s such a big tournament.”

The match was scoreless going into the third period, then Bressler got an escape for one point. He followed with a take down and managed to hold Cranford down for the remaining 26 seconds.

“In both the semifinals and finals they (opponents) were pretty tough,” Bressler said. “It was just a killer finals.”

In the semifinals, Bressler beat W.F. West’s Jim Wilson, who placed fourth at state last year, 7-5.

In his first match, Bressler pinned Brandon Perkins from McKay, Ore. in 42 seconds. He won his second and third matches by technical fall, beating Andrew Chapman of Sedro Woolley 15-0 and Brandon Walsh of Evergreen 17-2.

“He’s got a good shot at state this year,” coach Mike Bressler said. “But he’s got a lot of wrestling to do.”

Other wrestlers who advanced more than three rounds include Jefferson’s Kris Lay at 103 pounds, Decatur’s Jon Joseph at 112, Decatur’s Dustin English at 119, Decatur’s Travis Hoeft at 130, Jefferson’s William Taing at 130, Decatur’s Mike Esbenshade at 160, Decatur’s Taylor McCluskey at 171, Jefferson’s Rick Aholeile at 215 and Decatur’s Barry Driskell at 275.

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