SPRINGDALE – The Oroville Hornet Wrestling team gets a little closer to a team championship each time they wrestle, coming in second at Springdale.

“The good news was having Alex Alvarez and Jose Velasco advance to the finals for the first time this season,” said Hornet Coach Chuck Ricevuto. “They were joined by Nick Perez and Mike Lynch who are no strangers to the gold medal round.”

Perez and Lynch were champions while Velasco and Alvarez took home silver medals.

Alex Kelly lost an “overtime” bout that would have placed him in the finals, but he had to settle for the bronze along with the ever-improving Tyler Herrera and Alex Beltran, according to Coach ‘Rice.’

Gil Ildelfonso contributed a win for the valuable team points.

“The bad news was missing four varsity wrestlers which really places the pressure on our younger, more experience wrestlers,” he said.

Also wrestling for the Hornets were Joanthony Gallegas, Eric Herrera, Leo Delgado and Jadon Hockett.

The teams finished as follows: Kettle Falls, 158; Oroville, 142; Riverside JV, 118; Springdale, 110; WCK, 102; ACA, 85; Selkirk, 81; Liberty, 71 and Wellpinit, 15.

The Hornets also participated in the Eastmon “Cat Classic” at East Wenatchee.

“We, being a BB school, were only allowed to bring state alternates, participants, and/or state placers plus any kids we deemed outstanding,” said Ricevuto.

As a result the Hornets took seven kids and had mixed results. Alex Kelly, at 125 pounds won two bouts and just missed the medal round. Gil Ildelfonso at 130 pounds went two and out and Alex Alvarez at 135 pounds won an exhibition bout by fall.

“Nick Perez wrestling at 140 won four bouts and lost only one close bout 7-8 to a kid from White River who was sixth in state last year at 3A,” said the Hornet coach.

In the tournament the format allowed only championship semifinal losers to wrestle for third and fourth place, according to Ricevuto.

“Nick lost this close bout in the quarters so had to battle through the consolations for a fifth place medal,” Ricevuto said.

Mike Lynch won two bouts and placed fourth, Tyler Herrera won one bout by a technical fall and Alex Beltran won one bout by a fall.

The following 4A, 3A and 2A schools were in attendance: Wenatchee, Kamikan, Richland, Glacier Peak, West Valley (Spokane), East Valley (Yakima), Hanford, White River, Sedro Wolley, Eastmont, Highland, Bellevue, Kentridge, Ellensburg and Cashmere (A).