Colton Elliot’s weight-class championship led the way as eight Oak Harbor wrestlers placed at the Kelso Invitational Saturday, Jan. 16.
As a team, the Wildcats finished in the middle of the pack, grabbing fourth in the seven-team tournament with 110 points. Host Kelso took the team title with 195.5 points.
Hunter Vail (189 pounds) and Justin Everett (152) earned seconds for the Wildcats; Corey Trimbur (103), Josh Barton (135), Brandon Stratton (145) and Zach Loescher (171) nabbed thirds; and Jeremy Foster (285) finished fourth.
Elliot’s title run at 140 pounds was almost derailed in the first period of his first match. After receiving a bye in the first round, he found himself on his back and down 5-0 heading into the second period of his opening bout. He recovered to earn a pin at 5:43, then also won the title with a fall at 5:11 over Kelso’s Mitchell Thompson.
Oak Harbor coach Mike Crebbin said, “Colton wrestled really well.” Discussing his other wrestlers, he said, “It was nice to see Hunter Vail and Justin Everett in the finals as sophomores.”
Vail won in the semifinals 6-0 before losing by a fall (2:33) in the finals.
Everett picked up a 9-6 decision in the semifinals and lost in the championship round 19-6.
Trimbur lost in the semifinals 5-3, then took the third-place bout 10-2.
Barton lost 9-2 to the eventual champion, then racked up two falls (1:30, 3:56) for third place.
Stratton won three of four matches, all with pins, to get this third place medal. After taking the first match with a fall (1:50), he lost 20-3, but came back with two quick pins in 53 and 37 seconds.
Loescher started his day with an 11-2 win, then lost to the eventual champion 13-1. After winning by a pin in 43 seconds, he took the third-place match 12-6.
Foster was pinned (5:42) in the opening round, received a bye and then won by a fall (3:32) before losing by a fall (3:42).
The Wildcats (0-5, 1-5) return home for the first time since Dec. 19 and return to Wesco North action with Monroe (0-4, 3-4) Thursday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m.
