MAT CLASSIC XXIV UNTOUCHABLES

JEREMY GOLDING (145)
Mead (4A), Senior, 35-1
Bio: There are natural-born wrestlers, and then there are athletes who learn to become elite wrestlers. With his exceptional work rate, Golding is the latter. And this weekend likely will be a special one as he and teammate Jordan Rogers try and become the first Mead wrestlers to win three state titles. “He has the ability to gear up for high-level competition, and he does not like to lose,” Panthers coach Phil McLean said. His record the past three seasons is 101-5.

JOSH NEWBERG (113)
Kelso (3A), Junior, 35-2
Bio: Some win on sheer talent. Others win because they prepare to the utmost degree. Newberg does both. The Hilanders’ standout became the school’s first two-time Tri-State champion last December, then spent most of the past two months competing at a higher weight class – 120 (where both losses occurred). His coach calls the two-time Cadet All-American a gym rat who indulges in the sport year-round. “He always puts himself in position to win big matches,” Kelso coach Bob Freund said.
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Here are The News Tribune’s Mat Classic XXIII “Untouchables”

Ruben Navejas (112)
Kentwood (4A), Senior, 38-0
A surprise way for the Mat Classic final to start last season?
Nobody expected Navejas, the defending 4A 103-pound champion, to get pinned in the title match by Tahoma’s Steven Hopkins.
But great wrestlers redeem themselves – and Navejas did this year by beating Hopkins in Hopkins’ weight class – 119.
This 2009 national freestyle champion has answered the bell time and time again this season.
“Ruben is really tough to score on, and can score from any position,” Kentwood coach Ken Sroka said. “And he’s always in great shape.”
The holder of a 158-7 mark for his Kentwood career, he would like to wrestle at Arizona State.
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