Region 18 Championship Wrestling Results

Yakima, Wash. - North Idaho dominated the 2007 Region 18 Championships with eight of their wrestlers finishing in the top two including two region champs. Southwestern Oregon had four wrestlers take home championship titles and one finishing second. Clackamas also claimed a pair of champions in the 141 and Heavyweight classes. Highline and Pima notched championships in the 184 and 157 classes.

Highline's Brad Padgatt was the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler for the second consecutive year.

Yakima Valley's Tito Pimentel and Mike Schmitt were selected Coaches of the Year. Pimentel and Schmitz were highly instrumental in Yakima Valley's major turnaround from last season when the Yaks scored no wins in the 2006 tournament.

North Idaho qualified all ten wrestlers for the 2007 National Tournament in Rochester, MN. on Feb 23-24. Southwestern Oregon qualified nine followed by Clackamas and Highline with six, Pima with four and Yakima Valley with three. The top three in each weight class are guaranteed berths Eight of the competitors going to nationals were selected via wild card selection by Region 18 coaches based on performances and weight class competitiveness.

Region Champions (view all Nationals Qualifiers)
125 - Richie Zuniga - SW Oregon (2006 All-American)
133 Josh Williams - SW Oregon (2006 All-American)
141 Heinrich Barns - North Idaho (2006 All-American)
149 Sam Schmitz - Clackamas
157 Efrain Escudero - Pima
165 Zach Pagnotta - SW Oregon
174 Cody Leifheit - SW Oregon
184 Brad Padgatt - Highline, Outstanding Wrestler (2 years in a row, 2006 A.A.)
197 Evan Mattingly - North Idaho
HWT John Bates - Clackamas

Coach of the Year - Yakima Valley's Tito Pimentel and Mike Schmitt