Editor's note: this story has been updated to include missing seniors and comments from coach Joe Knox

Toppenish at Ephrata

EPHRATA — The Tiger boys wrestling team dropped a hard-fought 41-36 decision to Toppenish on their Senior Night Thursday, Jan. 22. They then traveled to Quincy on Saturday for the Mat Animal Invitational and turned in a solid showing, finishing fourth among 28 teams.

At home against Toppenish, Ephrata claimed seven of 14 matches but couldn't overcome the Wildcats' six-point victories. The visitors tallied five pins, a technical fall, and a forfeit to edge the Tigers.

Payton Woods delivered a highlight performance for Ephrata at 215 pounds, building a 10-0 lead before pinning Alberto Valencia at 5:41. And the Tigers' Colt Staples rolled through his 165-pound match against Izayah Castro, earning a third-period pin after jumping out to a 9-1 advantage.

At 175 pounds, Austin Smith provided the fastest pin of the night for the Tigers, putting away Jonathan Hernandez in 1:34. Teammates Carter Garcia (157) and Gage Rolly (150) also won by falls, and Louden Leenhouts (106) and Daron Hernandez (285) added decision victories.

The Tigers honored nine seniors before Thursday's match: Kylan Lus, Isaac Barajas, Carter Garcia, Austin Smith, Payton Woods, Riley Richards, Tavone Mantese, Ricky Alvarez and Fabian Cardoza. Mantese has been unable to wrestle this season after shoulder surgery but has been assisting daily at practice. Alvarez and Cardoza are first-year seniors.

Head coach Joe Knox said the group has left its mark on the program.

"They have been a really good group, a fun bunch to coach," Knox said. "Energetic, real characters. Hard-working, positive influence in the school and the community. They have won a lot of matches over the years and will be missed."

 Ephrata at Mat Animal Invitational

QUINCY — At Saturday's Mat Animal Invitational hosted by Quincy, Ephrata scored 148.5 points, placing fourth behind Wapato (209), Othello (165) and Eastmont (163). The Tigers placed six wrestlers on the podium.

Hernandez and Woods both reached the finals and placed second in their respective 285 and 215 brackets, finishing the tourney with 3-1 records.

In his matches, after scoring a takedown, Hernandez pinned Ozais Martinez Villegas of Othello in just 48 seconds and won decisions over Cascade Christian and Wapato opponents. In the championship match, Hernandez was pinned by Eastmont's Adrik Kiedrowski.

Woods powered through his bracket with two first-period pins and an 11-0 major decision over Royal's Daniel Valdez. In the finals, Woods dropped a 10-5 decision to familiar rival Alejandro Barajas of Quincy. It was the third meeting this season between Woods and Barajas, and all three have ended in decisions in the Jackrabbit senior's favor.

Staples mostly cruised through six matches, finishing 5-1 to earn third place at 165 pounds. Staples notched three consecutive falls to open the tournament, including a 42-second pin over Anthony Field of East Valley (Yakima). He dropped a 10-3 decision to Royal's Cael Orth in the semifinals but bounced back with a sudden-victory decision over East Valley (Spokane)'s Hunter Nicholson to claim the bronze.

Garcia took fourth at 157 pounds and Leenhouts placed fourth at 106. Both finished 3-2 on the day.

Leenhouts picked up pins over opponents from Colville and Tonasket before losing a major decision to Ellensburg's Kyler Mays. He got back on track with a 9-7 decision over Tonasket's Jesse Corum, but lost the third-place match by technical fall to Tonasket's Jake Bolich, whom he'd beaten earlier in the day.

Garcia began the day with a fall over Chelan's Yandel Mata, but then lost by fall to Othello's Camilo Mendez III. He picked up two forfeit wins before ending with a first-period loss to Ellensburg's Wyatt Green.

Nate Sandoval went 2-3, finishing sixth at 120 pounds. He earned two third-period wins, one by fall over Quincy's Johnny Blancas and held on for a 14-12 decision over Wapato's Xzavier Garza.

Also competing for Ephrata at the Mat Animal Invitational were Mike Ramirez (126), going 3-2 on the day; Kylan Lus (132), Riley Richards (144) and Danny Wurl (190) each finished 2-2; Austin Smith (175) and Isaac Barajas (138) went 1-2; and Caleb Schooler (113) finished 0-2.

Next up, the Tigers travel to East Valley (Yakima) on Thursday, Jan. 29, for a 7 p.m. CWAC dual.