Last year’s sixth place 3A state finisher, Prince Mansaray, and the host Highline Pirates’ wrestling team handled Tyee’s Totems, 58-15, Thursday.

The Pirates were short-handed on this night and that coupled with five forfeits by the Totems reflected the final score.

Tyee didn’t have enough wrestlers, as previously noted, but those that wrestled were strong and there is definitely potential on Tyee for future good performances both at state and also in their forthcoming Seamount League seasons.

But, for now, it’s a building team that depth-wise just is not knit and lop-sided scores will develop. Highline forfeited one match and Tyee five, which means six points per forfeit so that’s 30 points to Highline minus the one Highline forfeit, so 24 points go on the Highline scoreboard before the match even begins.

Hopefully, this new coach for the Totems sticks around. His name is Thomas Taylor.

It was one of the better matches as Mansaray, a senior who solely represented Pirates wrestlers at state at the Tacoma Dome last February, went against a first year wrestler for Tyee, Carl Kemp, who wrestled Mansaray pretty tough. Mansaray would say afterward that his wrestling moves were hampered by injury, but he still gave Kemp a mild thumbs up.

Kemp, with a 14-4 record, gave Mansaray a good first round, and part of a second before getting pinned. Mansaray led after the first round, 6-0 on three takedowns, but no near falls, showing Kemp could be taken down but had the strength and endurance-early on-to battle from being put in a precarious position on his back for any length of time for “near fall” points against him.

In the second round, Mansaray got a takedown and a near-fall for upping the lead to 11-0 before Kemp stood up to Mansaray and won a battle for a takedown of Mansaray. Mansaray did get the pin put on Kemp with 15 seconds left in the second round (3:45).

What can Kemp, a newbie to high school wrestling, and, just wrestling, period, do to improve?

“Carl needs to stay moving and have better hip placement,” said Taylor, offering good tips, adding, “Prince got in a better stance. He got to Carl’s legs too fast and no one should be able to shoot that fast.”

Mansaray is currently ranked third in the state for 3A at his weight class, 152, and, only has one loss against 11 wins. He does not lose much and that one loss should not have happened is the best way of putting it. But it did and that is that.

“Prince went to overtime with a guy and it was first person to take the other down to win,” said Peterson. “Prince took the other guy down first but jumped up too soon. The points weren’t awarded him and the other guy got him when he wasn’t ready. I always say to not let up on your opponent until after you see the judge give you the points.”

But Mansaray fought through that match, too, with an injury, and, it likely did not get to overtime but his hurt midsection kept him from giving that foe his full potential.

“I’m not going to work before the wrestling this year, working at night didn’t work, not enough sleep,” said Prince of state coming up. He should be there, that’s a given. But talk to Peterson, and he will not give that pass for anyone, including someone as capable and dominating as Mansaray.

“He may or may not make it to state,” said Peterson, who got a big hug from Mansaray after he lost his third-sixth consolation finals match last year. Peterson also allowed Mansaray to sleep in the back of his truck, which had a canopy on it so Mansaray could be rested after the first damage was done of wrestling early in the morning the first day and losing.

“It depends on who comes to wrestle that day,” said Peterson, who also mentioned some other guys that have a chance at state, including Derick Lewis, who was one of the six not wrestling on this day because of not grades or practice skipping and instead something else.

“He was over weight tonight,” said Peterson of his 189 pounder. “I think he thought it was automatic to make weight.”
For Lewis to do well this season and postseason, Peterson said he needs to get “a little more aggressive.”

And, Devante Black, 215, is another that has an 8-3 record and was wrestling on this night if a forfeit at his weight class didn’t stop that.
Devante’s mission from Peterson is four key words.

“Devante needs to get in better shape,” said Peterson.

Highline has others too that could make state, like Cody Wadleigh, who was a district wrestler after compiling a season mark of something like 18-4.

“I am working on school,” said Wadleigh. “I am hoping to be back next week.”

The Tyee  team has some good potential state guys, besides Kemp. Derek Ingraham, in the lightest weight class, 103, is a sophomore transfer from Kentridge. He didn’t wrestle junior varsity last year even for the Chargers, but now for the Totems he is 19-0.

What happened with that change?

“I weighed 93 pounds,” said Ingraham.

Also, Moises Torres, for the Totems, who placed 12th last year at state, is a good one to watch.

Torres, a sophomore, will tell you why he’s a good wrestler at a young age, in the 119 class.

“It runs in the family. My brother, Jesus, was second in the state two years ago,” said Torres.

The Totems, though losing this match against the Pirates by more than a few points, have quite a few good wrestlers.

Winners on this day were Ingraham, 6-3, in a good match against Highline’s Steve Edson, at 103. At 112, Jack Lyon got a forfeit win for the Pirates.

Then, at 119 was Torres by pin at 1:28. At 125 was Tyee’s Billly Hume, getting a technical fall. Emily Birdseye got a forfeit win for the Pirates at 130.

At 135, Peterson said Mitchell McCartney is a hard working, listening, second year wrestler, and he won his match, 11-0. At 140, Junior McDaniel got a pin at 1:11. Pat Legate, for the Pirates, won 210 by technical fall. Zachary Mann, for the  Pirates, got a pin at 42 seconds, tying Jeremy Rowden for fastest pin of the night. Rowden was at 189.