With a rare chance to compete at home in a state-qualifying round, Skyline’s wrestlers rose to the occasion during Saturday’s KingCo 4A Championships at Juanita High School.

The Spartans, who will host the Region 2 district meet on Feb. 12, finished second as a team and advanced 13 athletes to the next round.

Skyline earned 178 team points, finishing only behind Inglemoor (253).

Jordan McCaslin captured Skyline’s lone league title on Saturday at 152 pounds. The senior defeated junior teammate Ian Crouch in a 9-6 decision for the title.

Senior Collin Ehret battled his way into the 125-pound championship match before falling via pin to Roosevelt’s Calvin Olds.

Seven other Spartans finished third or fourth earning automatic trips to the Region 2 tournament, while three others will compete in loser-out pigtail matches for the right to enter the double-elmination bracket.

Griffin Howlett (103), Justin Manipis (112), Tristan Steciw (119) and Cyrus Sarkosh (171) placed third; Joseph DeMatteo (103), Jo Tono (112) and Sean McAlhaney placed fourth; and Joey Gurke (119), Christian Caldwell (135) and Michael Mecham (160) finished fifth.

The Region 2 meet, which features the top wrestlers from the KingCo 4A and South Puget Sound League, begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Skyline High School. The top five placers in each weight class will earn the right to compete at the state championships Feb. 19-20 in Tacoma.

Issaquah grapples its way to third

Issaquah placed third at the KingCo 4A meet, earning 166.5 points.

The Eagles, who had two individual champions, advanced 11 wrestlers to the Region 2 meet.

Junior Max Tickman pinned Inglemoor’s Shane Merrill with just 24 seconds remaining in the match to take the 112-pound title.

Senior David White pinned his way to the 145-pound championship match, before earning a 10-4 decision over Bothell’s Brandon Davidson.

Almen Thorpe (135) and Cody Duke (152) snagged third-place finishes, while Joseph Tonnemaker (145) and Andrew Ramirez (160) placed fourth. Louden Ivey (103), Jerdon Helgeson (130), Sean Novak (140), Taylor Evans (152) and Matt Solusod (215) finished in fifth place and will compete in pig-tail matches on Saturday.

Eastlake advances five on to regionals

Eastlake placed seventh of 11 teams at the KingCo 4A Championships with 121 team points. The Wolves advanced five wrestlers on to the Region 2 meet.

Sophomore Eric Harper claimed an individual title at 160 pounds, winning a tight 5-3 decision over Inglemoor’s Sam Gastineau.

Two others reached their respective championship matches, coming up just short. Senior Chris Dallas (103) lost a 9-2 decision to Bothell’s Chris Ungerecht and senior Max Benjamin (130) fell in an 8-5 decision to Inglemoor’s Gabe Seward.

Adam Nakanishi (125) and Nykolai Peterson (140) placed third.

Seven Eastside Catholic wrestlers move on

Eastside Catholic advanced seven wrestlers through the Metro League Championships on Saturday, placing seventh overall out of 12 teams.

Junior Anthony Roy won the 152-pound title, earning a come-from-behind pin over Franklin’s Jack Shleer with 1 second left on the clock. The match would have gone into overtime had Roy not pinned Shleer.

Joe Stoutt (215) worked his way to the title match, before falling in 1 minute, 8 seconds to O’Dea’s David Dempsey. Stoutt’s second-place finish moved him into the 3A Region 2 championships this Saturday at Kennedy Catholic.

David Hurdle (215) finished third; Drew Beggs (140), Matt Beggs (112) and Zerai Mateos placed fourth and Dentin Garrett (160) placed fifth. All will compete for a bid to the state tournament this weekend.