The longer anyone is associated with athletics the clearer it becomes that it’s often just little things that hold a team together, make a season a success or make the memories last forever.
I had the pleasure of covering my first Oak Harbor wrestling match last week and it was good to get back in the groove, so to speak, with the matmen. I guess I can use the term “matmen†this time without being politically incorrect. Oak Harbor does have some girls on the team, but they didn’t compete in any of the varsity bouts against Arlington.
Oak Harbor has some big-time talent on the team this season and thanks to a bit of information from a parent, I learned that the Elliot brothers, Colton and Tyler, are undefeated in dual matches this year and have so far pinned all their opponents.
In the match against Arlington Colton bumped up from his normal weight class of 103 pounds to the 112 weight bracket, and still came away with the pin.
“Big†brother Tyler was also a pin-fall winner in the 189-pound bout.
Way to go, guys! Keep up the good work.
In what turned out to be the key bout in the match with Arlington, sophomore Ben Page came through with a 7-3 victory in the 135-pound weight class.
After the win a winded Page, dripping perspiration and sporting a mat burn on his chest while speaking through pink-tinted front teeth thanks to a split lip, gave me a good interview about how he tried his best to get a major decision over his opponent and was disappointed that he was not able to get the job done so Oak Harbor could have won the match instead of settling for a 36-36 tie.
All the time I was speaking with Page, a young lady was standing nearby nearly jumping up and down with excitement.
With a big smile that displayed a mouth full of silver braces, the parents of this young lass can be proud of her.
Despite her excitement, she remembered she was raised with enough respect to know not to interrupt an adult who is trying to have a conversation.
Kudos to the parents!
After I finished my interview I asked Page if this was his girlfriend. He just smiled, that was answer enough for me.
As I was leaving, she threw her arms around the victor, gave him a big hug and a little kiss on the cheek. That was reward enough for him.
A bit of advice: Hang on to this young man, girlfriend. He is a good one and has the heart of a warrior.
•••
The big buzz around Coupeville these days is the cheerleading squad will be going to the national championships this year.
Needless to say, coach Sylvia Arnold and the girls are excited.
Making things even more exciting is the team will be traveling with the Oak Harbor cheerleaders who are “veterans†of national competition.
“We are so excited, it’s going to be like little sisters and big sisters for us,†Arnold said.
The state championships will be held March 22 in the Yakima Sun Dome and from there they take off for Anaheim, Calif., for the nationals.
Oak Harbor coach Pam Headridge said she helped Arnold choreograph the Wolves’ routine they will be using in the competition and is confident both teams will make it through the state competition and advance to the nationals.
With instruction like that along with the poise and talent both teams possess, how can either of them lose!
