State 3A wrestling: North Central’s Clai Quintanilla, Bryan Wais take home titles

TACOMA – It didn’t make a difference in how the team fared, and that was quite fine with North Central wrestling coach Luke Leifer. Clai Quintanilla and Bryan Wais of North Central were the Greater Spokane League’s lone State 3A champions Saturday as Mat Classic XXVIII finished at the Tacoma Dome. The 126-pound Quintanilla put on a performance, topping Alec Hoover of Mt. Spokane for a fourth time this season. And it was Quintanilla’s most dominating win over his Greater Spokane League rival, a13-2 major decision.“I came out with a different gameplan,” Quintanilla said. “He’s trying toslow the match down so I was trying tomove my feet more, be on his head moreand be more aggressive.”Quintanilla paired five takedownswith back points.He wants to be NC’s first four-timestate champ.“It’s been a goal since I was in elementary(school),” Quintanilla said. “It’s alwaysbeen my goal to dominate this stateand be a four-timer and nothing lessthan that.”Quintanilla’s three titles equal hisbrother, Izaec Quintanilla.

In another all-GSL final, Wais stopped Bryden Uyehara of Shadle Park 3-1 at 152, the deciding points coming on a takedownwith 5 seconds remaining.It was the eighth time in their careersthat Wais and Uyehara matched up andfourth time this season. Wais’ win reverseda 5-2 loss at regionals. And most of their showdowns havegone to overtime. That got Wais to thinkingas the waning seconds of the matchticked away.“I think he thought we were going toovertime again so I fired off a quick movewhen things were slowing down,” Waissaid. “I caught a slick takedown and endedthe match.”The state titles for Quintanilla andWais were especially satisfying to Leifer.All seven Indians who qualified returnnext year.Mt. Spokane fell short of its state-titlepursuit. Arlington captured the titlewith 148 and Mt. Spokane was next with 126. NC took seventh (92.5). The bulk of Mt. Spokane’s pointscame behind runner-up Blake Haney (106) and four third-place finishers. NC freshman Clayton Gilliam (113) placed second.