By Mike Cooper

Edmonds-Woodway finished the 38th annual Edmonds Invitational Wrestling Tournament with 12 individual medal winners, including four champions. As a team, the Warriors finished in 2nd place narrowly losing first place Oak Harbor.

In the 10-team tournament that featured three top-10 ranked schools, the Warriors had five grapplers in the championship finals. E-W champions included Noah Cuzzetto at 113lbs, Matt Cuzzetto at 145 lbs, Zack Perez at 170 lbs and George Johanson at 285 lbs. Marq Brown placed second for the Warriors at 160 lbs.

Sophomore Noah Cuzzetto who is ranked 1st in state at 106 lbs moved up and wrestled 113 lbs. Cuzzetto easily handled his bigger foes winning by a pin in both the semifinals and finals. Cuzzetto pinned Phuoc Nguyen from Juanita in 1:54 to win the title.

Noah’s older brother Matt, a junior, had a little tougher scrap in the finals at 145lbs. In an exciting final, Matt Cuzzetto defeated Morgan Smith from Meadowdale by a 5-2 decision. Matt Cuzzetto is ranked 3rd in state.

In the 160 lbs final, senior Marq Brown was defeated 10-4 by Jeffery Stephan from Jackson.

Senior Zach Perez won his first two matches by falls to earn his way into the 170 lbs final. In the championship match Perez scored a 9-5 decision over Everett’s Zack Skorka. Perez is ranked 6th in state.

Junior George Johanson faced three opponents at 285 lbs and won all his matches by falls. In his final match Johanson pinned Raymond Quinday from Oak Harbor in 4:35. Johanson is ranked 7th in state.

Also placing for the Warriors were: 120 lbs – Mark Hood 3rd and Tyler Stedman 4th, 132 lbs – Nathan Vullliet 4th, 138 lbs – Wes Korbein 5th, 152 lbs – Collin Natterstad 3rd, 182 lbs – Jordan Barnes 5th, and 220 lbs – Kris Delany 3rd.

Another highlight of the tournament was the awarding of the Mike Hess Sportsmanship Award to Edmonds-Woodway head coach Brian Alfi. The award is named after long-time Edmonds and Edmonds-Woodway teacher and coach Mike Hess who passed away suddenly in 2000.