DW wrestler Carlos Norris finishes fourth at State

 

February 27, 2020

-Photo courtesy of Fred Knebel

Carlos Norris proudly takes his spot on the fourth-place tier of the winner's podium.

TACOMA–Carlos Norris's third time returning to the state wrestling tournament ended after the 138-lb. senior lost the second match and fought his way up through the consolation bracket to finish fourth. The tourney was held here February 21-22.

Norris, a Dayton-Waitsburg wrestler who practices with the Pomeroy Wrestling Team and is coached by Pirate coaches Ben Slaybaugh and Mat Slaybaugh, headed into the tournament ranked third in his weight class, and bumped up against the second-ranked grappler in the quarterfinals, getting pinned and sent on the long road to the medal rounds.

But Norris won the next three rounds and landed in the Third/Fourth final, there losing by fall and finishing fourth.

Norris is proud of being a three-time state qualifier, and a two-time medal winner. In 2018, Norris finished fourth in his first appearance at state. In 2019, he was edged from the medal podium.

"In the quarterfinals," Norris said, "that was the match. We were shooting for that upset and to get into the finals and came up just a tad short."

"Dayton senior Carlos Norris wrestled well to finish off his career," said Head Coach Ben Slaybaugh. "He lost a tough quarter-final match but battled back to finish fourth. He had a great season and will be missed next year."

Norris was confident going into the state tournament, but the loss in the second round was tough to take. "I felt I overcame a lot at state," Norris said. "Especially after losing by one point to that kid, then having to wrestle my way back up through the consolation bracket."

He first met Josh Haas of Liberty-Spangle, pinning him at :57, and advancing to the quarter finals.

His next opponent was second-ranked Ian Campbell of Kalama, who was leading by just one point when he managed to pin Norris.

"Whoever would win, would go on to finals," Norris said. Campbell ended up in the championship match, finishing second to champion Colin Silverthorn of Tonasket.

Instead, Norris began the long climb through the consolation bracket, winning the next three matches. Norris not only had a hard road ahead, but he also needed to win the next match, his third of the day, to advance to the final day Saturday, February 22.

"I had to wrestle another time the first day," Norris said. "It was a lot to overcome, after losing a match that close. I had to try to keep my chin up."

And he did. Norris pinned Marcus Hamel of Life Christian Academy at 1:00. "I finished him pretty quick," he said.

"I tried to go into second day pretty confident and shoot for bronze," Norris said. He talked with his coaches and recognized how his mental attitude was different following the loss the day before.

The next day, Norris faced Chad Doyen of Republic/Curlew, winning by fall late in the second round. Unfortunately, Norris employed an illegal slam and was called for it. In that situation, if the wrestler is unable to continue due to injury, the match is over and goes to the injured contestant. "He ended up getting through it and I was thankful for that," Norris said.

"It got into my head and was hard to overcome," he said. "I'm proud of how I handled myself and how it turned out."

He reached the Consolation Finals (third/fourth places) by taking a 6-4 decision over Christopher Lake of Ilwaco.

-Photo courtesy of Fred Knebel

Dayton-Waitsburg wrestler Carlos Norris, here putting the moves on Christopher Lake of Ilwaco, works toward the 6-4 decision win in the consolation semifinals. This victory sent Norris into the Consolation Final, where he battled Kolby Mozingo of Onalaska for third or fourth place, eventually finishing fourth.

The tournament wrapped for Norris when Kolby Mozingo of Onalaska won by fall in the second round, at 2:54.

Pomeroy sophomore 170-pounder Braedyn White captured a sixth-place medal and Will Winona, in the 182-lb. division, was eliminated from the bracket after two hard-fought losses.

White "had a great outing" and landed on the medal podium in sixth place, Slaybaugh said. "He lost three really close matches all to opponents that ended up medaling," he said. "He showed some really good wrestling and as a sophomore has a bright future."

White opened the bracket by pinning Jerimyah Johnson (Wahkiakum) at 0:47. In the quarterfinals, Austin Brock of Tonasket took the match with a major decision of 13-5.

In the consolation round, White pinned Raymond's Eliot Niles at :54, then he won by major decision of 16-2 over Sven Rasmussen of Selkirk.

In the Consolation Semifinal, White was on the short side of an 8-5 decision to Paul Jones of Kittitas.

In the 5th Place Match, Colby Guzman of Oroville narrowly defeated White 3-2.

 
 

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