DQ KOs top Bulldogs wrestler
Controversial ruling ends Savidge’s season
By ROB OLLIKAINEN
A controversial disqualification of Ellensburg High School senior wrestler Joe Savidge cast a cloud over a solid team performance at the Mid Valley-Greater Spokane sub-regional tournament Saturday in Spokane.
Four Ellensburg wrestlers qualified for the regional tournament this Saturday in the EHS gym, but the Bulldogs will have to go without senior 135-pounder Joe Savidge.
Savidge was trailing an East Valley wrestler in the semifinals on Saturday when his opponent jumped up and said Savidge bit him.
“It was an unfortunate situation, “said Ellensburg High School wrestling coach Jason Stevenson. “The East Valley kid cross-faced him and jumped up and claimed Joe bit him. Joe denied it, and at that point it really got chaotic.”
Savidge, a captain, honor student and defending state qualifier, was flagged for misconduct and ejected. Stevenson, who couldn’t see the incident because the wrestlers’ backs were turned to him, protested the match. The protest was overturned by a rules committee.
“It was a real tragedy as far as I’m concerned, “Stevenson said.
Armed with a little extra motivation, Ellensburg’s Tyler Carter (112 pounds), Tyler McGee (130), Jeremy Carter (140) and Zach Haberman earned regional bids by virtue of their top-five finishes.
McGee and Jeremy Carter each won their consolation final to take third place. Haberman finished fourth place. Tyler Carter was fifth.
Stevenson said all four wrestlers have the potential to get past regionals and make the state tournament Feb. 18-19 in Tacoma.
“I think all of them have a chance to get past this tournament, “Stevenson said. “They all turned it on on Saturday, and wrestling at home is a big factor.”
Stevenson said season records and seeding can be thrown out the window at regionals. The grappler who shows up to wrestle has the edge, he said.
Tyler Carter will face Dillon Justice of Black Hills High School in the first round. McGee drew Kyle Tomes, a junior, in the first round. Jeremy Carter will face off with Yelm junior Ben Bradley. Haberman will wrestle freshman Eric Schmidtke in the opening round.
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