Lees Lead Washougal: Abby Honored for 2nd State Title, Tanner, Scott Excel

By Dan Trujillo

The Lees wrestling name will hang on the walls of the Joe Brown Gymnasium at Washougal High School forever.

Before the Panthers beat Mark Morris 54-27 in a league duel Thursday, head girls coach Heather Carver and the community honored Abby Lees with a 2017 state championship plaque. Her younger brother, Scott, climbed up the ladder and hung it next to Abby’s other banner from 2015.

Abby Lees earned a record of 105-6 for Washougal. She wrestled in four state finals matches at the Tacoma Dome and won two titles.

“Wrestling is like our family heritage,” Tanner Lees said. “We have a mat in our living room we can use all the time.”

“It’s what keeps our family together,” Scott Lees added. “When we get home, sometimes our dad might get us in a headlock and start teaching us.”

Tanner and Scott Lees are climbing their own ladders. The brothers wrapped up 2017 with Washougal River Rumble championships. Tanner finished in fourth place at state last season and hopes to win it all this year. Scott also wants to wrestle at the Tacoma Dome, in February, and bring home a medal.

Scott Lees turns his opponent into a pin fall predicament.

Scott and Tanner pinned their opponents from Mark Morris Thursday. Tanner Klopman, Andrew Hopple, Jason Powell, Jeffrey Wells, Mason Armstrong, Dakota Andleman and Bryce Williams also won their matches for Washougal.

As a team, the Panthers finished in first place at the Washougal River Rumble. They racked up 205 points to win the 13-school tournament. Centralia took second place with 159 points.

Cole Pass clinched the 126-pound championship for Washougal. He beat Centralia’s Dayvi Gaspar 6-1 in the final match.

Scott Lees defeated Castle Rock’s Elijah Bell 12-7 in the 132 title match. Tanner Lees pinned all four his opponents to finish first at 152 pounds.

Hopple took second place at 145 and Andleman earned second at 285. Jonathan Wells, Blake Webb, Klopman, Powell and Armstrong reached the third- and fourth-place round. Gus Shelley and Williams got to the fifth- and sixth-place rounds.

On Jan. 12 and 13, the Washougal boys and girls wrestling teams will compete in the Clark County Championships, at Skyview High School.

Jason Powell drives his opponent into the mat.

Andrew Hopple pins his opponent.

Tanner Klopman (right) locks up with a Mark Morris Monarch in the last match of the evening. The Panthers manhandled the Monarchs 54-27.