Led by Alec Williams’ 140-pound title and Gino Russell’s runner-up finish at 171 pounds, the White River High wrestling team came away with a third-place finish behind Ellensburg and Davis of Yakima Saturday at the 15-team Eastmont Cats Classic in Wenatchee, Wash.

“Our kids did OK,” coach Joe Klein said. “There were good teams there. There was some great competition. There were some great finals matches.

“It was good for us to see some eastern Washington teams.”

The finish boosts the Hornets’ confidence as they prepare to meet the state’s top-ranked Class 3A team and South Puget Sound League 3A leader Enumclaw tonight, Wednesday. Competition begins at 7 in Buckley. White River then turns around and takes on another tough SPSL 3A rival Bonney Lake Thursday for a 7 p.m. road contest. The Hornets head to W.F. West High in Chehalis, Wash., for a tournament Saturday.

Klein said he’s looking forward to the matchup with Enumclaw.

“We’re excited about that match because it packs the gym,” he said. “We have our work cut out for us.”

In Wenatchee, the Hor-nets took 13 wrestlers and placed 10 in the top six.

Williams dominated his match and won his title with a 7-6 decision over Kido Espinoza of Davis. Russell also was up for most of his match until Ephrata’s Robert Motzkus stuck him at the 4-minute, 48-second mark.

The Hornets also scored four third-place finishes – Jeremy Gurule, 130 pounds, Caden Pugmire, 152 pounds, Michael J. Madden, 160 pounds, and Michael P. Madden at 171 pounds. Madden’s 171-pound finish did not earn team points for the Hornets because he was the team’s second entry.

Chase Myers and David Meagher earned fifth-place finishes at 215 pounds and heavyweight, respectively.

Hornets Austin Bethel, 160 pounds, and Joey Andersen, 189 pounds, finished sixth. Like Madden, Bethel’s points did not count. toward the team score.

Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.