Niezwaag, Goble earn state wrestling hardware

Once a year the floor of the Tacoma Dome is converted into a human traffic jam where every individual has something in common — wrestling.

For the LRS Broncos it is a right of passage that few experience and even fewer experience to the fullest, The WIAA Mat Classic. The Classic is a collection of the state’s best high school wrestlers from every division, all gathered in the dome at the same time with countless wrestling matches occurring simultaneously on Friday and Saturday, until the eventual champions are determined for every weight class.

Keanu Niezwaag and Cory Goble had the unique opportunity of representing their school on the mat for the state tournament in a sport driven by individual strength, finesse and mental control.

Niezwaag made his fourth and final trip to the dome for the Mat Classic to vie for a medal and some bragging rights. After all, it would be his final outing as a high school wrestler. He checked in and made weight at 145 pounds.

Goble arrived for his first time to wrestle at 220 pounds.

For the LRS Broncos, the beauty of the experience came in the final results. The school sent two wrestlers to compete. Both returned home with medals. Niezwaag, despite a knee injury, captured a third place finish. Goble battled to earn a fourth place medal in his weight class.

Niezwaag opened his state tournament experience with a win on Friday over Shiloh Borden of Raymond. Niezwaag recorded a pin at 4:44 into the match.

He would meet Milo Holston of Liberty Bell in the semi final match on Friday. During this bout, Niezwaag had a knee pop out of place. He was able to continue in the match but eventually fell, 14-4.

With his knee taped, Niezwaag returned to the mats Saturday afternoon to face Kyle Nushort of Concrete. In typical fashion, Niezwaag was aggressive and quick on the mat, despite a sore knee. He would have to battle the entire six minutes, but opened with a two-point takedown, scored three points with a near fall and picked up two more points for a reversal to win the match 7-0.

In a battle for third and fourth place he found himself locked in a 2-2 brawl with a familiar foe, Walter Harris of Northwest Christian. Harris took a two-point lead early with a takedown, but Niezwaag battle back. He would manage one point for an escape and later receive another point when Harris was penalized for a stall.

Tied at two, the match began to tile in Niezwaag’s favor as he had control of Harris when the match was stopped due to injury. Harris would eventually default when his injury timeout expired. He suffered a shoulder injury that prevented him from continuing.

Niezwaag, despite an early tournament injury, out muscled his opponents to end his career with a third place medal.

Goble opened his tournament with a tight match against Steven Broom of Adna. Just 45 seconds into the match, Goble caught Broom out of position and recorded a pin.

In the semi final match, Goble found himself in a battle with Austin Reisdorph of Pomeroy. The match went just 58 seconds when Reisdorph was able to gain the upper hand and win by pin.

On Saturday, Goble returned to the mat determined to continue his pursuit of a medal.

His first match of the day would last just 12 seconds. George Crow of Raymond was quickly controlled by Goble and as the pair fell to the floor, Crow suffered a match-ending elbow injury.

Goble found himself in a match for third and fourth place against Broom, who he pinned in the first round.

The match was a back and forth battle. Goble opened with a two-point takedown, but Broom answered in the second period with a reversal, a stall point and another reversal for a 5-2 lead before Goble took control again with a reversal and a takedown.

As time was running out in the second period, Goble was dominating Broom, had him on his back and needed just a second or two to get a pin, but the clock saved Broom.

In the third period, Broom took the advantage and caught Goble out of position to record a pin with 1:37 remaining on the clock.