Until the finals of Saturday’s 2A state wrestling tournament, White River High was sitting in fourth place and enjoying every minute of it. With no Hornets in the finals, it would be tough to hold that position, but not impossible.

“For our guys to do what they did with no one in the finals it was an outstanding weekend. I’m very proud of them,” coach Joe Klein said. “With not a single finalist, the kids pretty much wrestled the whole tournament through the back door. That’s the hardest way to go. It takes heart.”

Tumwater had other plans and bumped WRHS to fifth. Deer Park won the state title, followed by Centralia and Klahowya. Senior Jeff Kisner was the Hornets’ top finisher, taking fourth at 215 pounds. Seniors Austin Shirey, 140 pounds, Caden Pugmire, 160 pounds, and David Meagher, 285, finished fifth for the Hornets.

Sophomore Brandon Short earned a sixth-place finish at 135 pounds. Seniors Richard Geddes, 112, and Noah Geehan, 171, were seventh-place medalists. The Hornets also brought 112-pound freshman Trevor Kurtz, 160-pound junior Brennan Gulin, 160, and senior Tyler Kilcup, 189, who did not place. It was the first time five of the seniors were state placers.