Oak Harbor’s first home wrestling match of the season on Tuesday, Dec. 12, was an opportunity for many local fans to watch the 2006 version of the Wildcat team in action.

In addition, it gave former wrestlers and fans who have supported the Oak Harbor grapplers over the years an opportunity to honor one of their own who has helped shape the program and make it what it is today.

Prior to the beginning of the match against Arlington, Anton Ehinger, representing the Whatcom, Skagit and Island County Wrestling Officials Association, presented former Oak Harbor coach Bruce Biddle with the Paul Reiman-Bo Campbell Award for his outstanding contribution to youth wrestling at Oak Harbor High School.

“I really didn’t expect this,” Biddle said. “I started wrestling in Oak Harbor as an eighth-grader in 1961 and my first year I was pinned in every match except for one. That one I felt was a victory. Every year after that, I felt wrestling was the best sport I ever participated in. It helped me so much with my discipline, learning how to be a good winner as well as a good loser, and taught me to set goals and go after it. I hope I’ve been able to pass some of this on to the kids I have coached.”