Villani wins Bellevue’s first title in 36 years | Prep wrestling news
Published 11:11 am Sunday, February 17, 2013
Another state title trophy is back on Wolverine Way, this one for the first time in 36 years.
Bellevue’s Christian Villani stormed through the 132 pound bracket at Mat Classic XXV in the Tacoma Dome, capping the performance with a dominating 14-0 technical fall victory over Tyler Wicken of Kelso in the finals.
Villani, only a sophomore, pinned Mount Spokane’s Richie Bondurant in the first round before taking out Decatur’s Isiah Diggs 6-1 in what would be his closest match of the tournament. He opened Saturday with a 15-0 technical fall win over Kamiakin’s Harley Kolp before dispatching Wicken in the finals to bring home Bellevue’s first wrestling state championship since Ted Cheng in the 1977-78 season.
Daniel Montoya made the field at 138 pounds for Interlake, losing his first match before winning a 4-3 decision and another by a score of 5-1. A 10-5 decision sent the Saints’ senior to the seventh-place match, where he fell in a 15-7 decision to Dylan Read of Bainbridge Island.
Cutter Podoll dropped both of his matches at 152 pounds for Bellevue, as did Jamey Mange at 170 and Dean Jones at 285.
Sammamish junior Rathana Duong lost both of his matches at 120 pounds in the 2A meet for the Totems.
Tate Razor finished the 1A meet with a 1-2 record at 185 pounds for Bellevue Christian.
