Down by 10 points half way through its match with Marysville-Pilchuck, the Oak Harbor High School wrestling team won five consecutive bouts to claim a 39-34 win over the visiting Tomahawks Thursday, Jan.10.

The victory was a positive beginning to a challenging weekend for the Wildcats. Tonight (Friday, Jan. 11) Oak Harbor joins Lynnwood and Hazen for a double dual meet at Highline High School, and Saturday Oak Harbor (6-1) goes to Mercer Island for the Tournament of Excellence.

Oak Harbor coach Mike Crebbin said the key individual match in the win over Marysville-Pilchuck (3-4) was the first at 195 pounds. Wildcat junior Jacob Dugin fought back from being nearly pinned while on his back for a minute in the first round to record a fall at 3:25.

“That was the determinator, a 12-point swing,” Crebbin said.

Another important match, Crebbin said, was 113 pounds where Rebecca Holloman lost 15-1. Crebbin said he knew going in that Holloman was the underdog and she “fought hard” to limit the damage and avoid giving up more bonus points.

After Dugin’s win, Terry Joll (220 pounds) lost 11-9 and Tyler Adamson (285) lost by a fall (:36).

Christian Bertram (106) won by a fall (3:50) and Oak Harbor led 12-9.

Three Wildcat losses followed, Holloman, Zaiha Sams (120, fall, :46) and Jeremy Vester (126, 6-2), and Oak Harbor trailed 22-12.

Jahleel Vester (132) started the comeback with a pin (1:08). Jacob Fitzgerald (138) then won by technical fall, and Oak Harbor took over 23-22.

Cody Fakkema (145) won 10-1, and Mark Johnston (152, 3:40) and Joshua Crebbin (160, :58) tacked on falls, and Oak Harbor built an insurmountable 39-22 lead.

C.J. Shavers (170, 1:47) and Jon Laningham (182, 2:33) were pinned to set the final score.

(Christian Bertram sets up Marysville-Pilchuck’s Sam Foss to be pinned.)