Now in its second year, the Oak Harbor High School girls wrestling team is ready to tackle a dual-meet schedule.
The Wildcats participated in weekly scrambles last winter, where a number of teams would meet and pair up wrestlers. No team scores were kept.
With a year of experience under its belt and a larger group of wrestlers, Oak Harbor will be going head-to-head in scored meets with eight opponents in 2019-20.
Leading the group of eight returning letter winners is state-qualifier senior Ella Erikson (125 pounds).
Other letter winners include seniors Barrett Chowning (140), Taylor Cress (130) and Diandra Dominguez (145), juniors Abigail Correa-Cruz (140), Adelina Lopez (130) and Nicole Sipes (125); and sophomore Anika Rasmussen (130).
Also returning is senior Emilee Canfield (235).
The new wrestlers, all showing promise according to coach Brian Farmer, are seniors Madison Comerford (235), Maria Dailey (160), Chelena Detamore (170), Issis Foster-Suyat (235), Adrionne Yelle (190) and Ofelia Velasco (170); sophomores Gabriela Flores (160), Alyssia Grose (190) and Haven Lemme (170); and freshman Christina Frank (110).
The strength of the team is its experience, and its weakness is the not being able to fill all the weigh classes, according to Farmer.
Right now the Wildcats do not have wrestlers in the 100, 105, 115 and 120 divisions.
The goals for the season are love, grow and lead, according to Farmer: “Love the sport of wrestling and our teammates, grow in our character and skills in the sport of girls wrestling and lead others on our team by example and encouragement to be the best they can be.”
“If we reach these goals, we will be better wrestlers and citizens,” Farmer added.
With a tough dual meet schedule on tap, Farmer said, “Hopefully we will rise up to compete and get better. Assistant coach Erin Locke and I are excited about our team and look forward to the challenges that are ahead.”
Oak Harbor will compete in the Sedro-Woolley Jamboree at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, and then open the season at Meridian in a double-dual meet with Mount Baker at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11.
