By Matt Phelps and Megan Managan

Reporter newspapers

The Juanita High School wrestling team traveled to Mercer Island to take on one of the top squads in 3A KingCo Wednesday. Although the rebels lost 49-21, the team is moving forward and learning form their experience on the mat.

“We were strong on our feet and tough from the mat,” said Rebels head coach Jared Jennings, whose team is a solid 2-2 and in the middle of the 3A KingCo pack. “We did a good job of creating opportunities for ourselves.”

Juanita did well during the lighter weight classes as Johnat Iwazaki won by decision, 4-1, for the Rebels at 112 pounds. He grappled with Uriel Cohen for three exhausting rounds. The next match also went to Juanita, as Danny Baba pinned Mercer Island’s Dylan Sullivan with just 14 seconds left in the second round at the 119-pound weight class.

But four of the next five matches again went to Mercer Island as the Rebels struggled to break the Islanders’ momentum. The only win came in the form of a decision by Rebel Matt Muna at 135 pounds. Muna narrowly outlasted his opponent for a 3-2 victory.

Juanita’s Michael Przystupa had one of the quickest victories of the night for his team as he faced off against Mercer Island’s Andrew Piction at 152 pounds. The one-minute, 35-second match ended with the slap of the referee’s hand and six points in Juanita’s favor.

Rebel Logan McCullum racked up the points during his 172-pound 9-2 win.

But Juanita’s Daniel Atkins drew the toughest wrestler Mercer Island has to offer – junior Colton Knebel at 189 pounds. Knebel showed why he is a defending KingCo champion with a 56-second pin.

“We need to work on our strength, getting more reps in practice,” said Jennings.

The Rebels will travel next week in an attempt to get back over the .500 mark.

“We go to Bothell next, but we’re focusing on Bellevue after that,” said Jennings. “We need to focus on winning the close and tight matches.