WARRENTON – Castle Rock left town with the team title, but the wrestling teams from Seaside and Astoria were right behind the Rockets as the Gulls and Fishermen finished second and third, respectively, in Warrenton’s annual eight-way meet Saturday.

Castle Rock racked up 181.5 points to win the championship, while Seaside (143) finished as the runner-up, just ahead of Astoria (141).

Other schools competing were Riverside (116), Neah-Kah-Nie (76), Vernonia (69), Warrenton (64.5) and Ilwaco (57).

The Gulls had 12 wrestlers place, including one individual champion and three second-place and six third-place finishes.

Winning a title for the Gulls at 145 pounds was Josiah Sigler, who posted a technical fall win over Castle Rock’s Matt Sutton in the championship bout.

Seaside teammate Jake Terrill took third at 145 after pinning Riverside’s Dustin Swindell.

Taking second for the Gulls were Kyle Oathes at 103 (lost a 17-9 decision to Castle Rock’s Brett Anshutz); Justin Rogers at 119 (because of an illness, Rogers forfeited the title match to Neah-Kah-Nie’s Josh Sherbaugh); and Josh Firth at 140 (lost an 18-5 decision to Riverside’s John Parrish).

“The team continues to progress,” said Seaside coach Chuck Mattocks. “Nelson Dillon (125) and Scott Crader (130) each wrestled up a weight class so we could avoid forfeits and competed well.

“Josh Firth and Curt Hullender (103) put together their best tournaments so far,” he added. “Josiah Sigler and Justin Rogers continued their quests for an undefeated season – unfortunately Justin was unable to finish.”

Dillon took third with a 5-3 overtime win over Riverside’s Kyle Charlton.

Elsewhere, Seaside’s Steven Kennedy took third at 135. Castle Rock’s Ector Mata won a high-scoring, 22-18 decision over Kennedy in the third-place match.

Daniel Edwards added a third-place finish for the Gulls at 275, where Edwards pinning Castle Rock’s Wesley Coates.

Astoria took the “less but more” route, as the Fishermen had only eight placers, but four individual champions.

Senior Josh Kindred – expecting to have a big year for Astoria – won the title at 112 pounds, where Seaside’s Steven Balzer placed third.

Fishermen senior Kent Russell won the title at 160 (scoring a dramatic, last-second 4-3 win over a Castle Rock wrestler), and junior teammate Nick Humphries pinned all three of his opponents for the championship at 171.

Junior Jeff Crowley followed suit at 215, pinning three straight on his way to an individual title.

Astoria also picked up points from freshman Randy Osborn (fourth at 103); junior Joven Rasgo (third at 119); senior Will Leino (second at 130); and senior Dan Lilley (fourth at 152, where he lost a technical fall to Seaside’s Jimmy Sibley).

The host Warriors had some success as well, as sophomore Billy Pike defeated Leino in the title match at 130 pounds.