Kitsap girl wrestlers hit the mat for early season mixer

Five of Kitsap’s high school girls wrestling teams took to the mats Dec. 12 for an early season mixer at North Mason High School.

Wrestlers from Klahowya, Bremerton, Bainbridge, North Kitsap and Olympic each took the mat four times over the course of the three-plus hour mixer, wrestlers being pitted against schools with those of similar weight classes. While no team scores were taken, the mixer let wrestlers get live matches prior to Kitsap County’s largest meet of the season: the Hammerhead Invitational.

North Kitsap’s Emily Gomez thrived in the meet, working to a 3-0 record on the night. The first two were by way of fall, while the third featured an 18-3 technical fall. Anna Holmes pinned her opponent to win her second match of the night, but suffered a fall loss in the first and a close decision in the third.

Bainbridge’s Abbigail Bjorgen ended her night with a 2-2 showing, winning her first match via a 5-3 decision and her second in a fall at 1:14 before being pinned in her final two matches. Sam Bonifield suffered four pinfall losses in her matches.

Bremerton brought a group of five female wrestlers to North Mason including Kailey Balajadia, who ended the night with a competitive 3-1 run through the mixer. Two perfect technical falls and an early match fall made up her victories, her sole loss coming on a pinfall. Reneelynn Semler, Sophiea Harp and Nyla Rios each recorded one win in their three respective matches.

Klahowya certainly thrived in the mixer. Raven Stone, Izzy Kilpatrick and Cheyanne Wolfard-Henry all finished with a perfect 3-0 mark in their matches, all three by way of pinfall. Kaliani Fultz and Linley Wolfard-Henry each claimed one victory and two losses.

Olympic brought a group of wrestlers to the mixer. Natanee Stone went 2-1 on the night, all three matches ending via pinfalls. Haley Schaser also went two for three, claiming two pinfall wins and losing 10-2 in the final. Madelynn Radeke won three matches, two by way of pinfall, and Maiyah Marner finished 2-2.

Abbygail Kagey, Shalayah Summers, Audrey Keane, and Ollie Hudson each recorded one victory for the Trojans.

Bremerton’s Kailey Balajadia, top, works her way to her first of three victories at North Mason.

Bremerton’s Kailey Balajadia, top, works her way to her first of three victories at North Mason.

Bainbridge’s Sam Bonifield tries to avoid getting pinned in her first match.

Bainbridge’s Sam Bonifield tries to avoid getting pinned in her first match.

North Kitsap’s Emily Gomez, right, twists out of a hold before winning against her first opponent of the night.

North Kitsap’s Emily Gomez, right, twists out of a hold before winning against her first opponent of the night.