The Oak Harbor High School wrestling team won a pair of thrillers at the PanCan Duals in Renton Friday, Jan. 16.

The Wildcats defeated Hazen of Renton 36-26 and Highline of Burien 36-33.

The PanCan meet is organized each year by Hazen coach Rory Magana, an  Oak Harbor graduate. Oak Harbor takes part in support of Magana and his efforts to raise awareness about pancreatic cancer, which claimed the life of his father, Rod Magana, a longtime Oak Harbor resident.

The double win was the Wildcats’ “best team effort,” coach Peter Esvelt said. “With (Michael) Lym/(Christian) Bertram and (Dymond) Piper/(Mark) Johnston having to be ready to wrestle multiple weight classes, we were able to present the best lineup in both matches.

“(The) Hazen match was great — every match exiting.”

Bertram and Johnston “were huge,” Esvelt said, coming up with pins in both matches.

Piper “showed great improvement” with a pair of wins, according to Esvelt.

“Lym wrestled great against a great Hazen wrestler, refusing bonus points, and won against Highline. (Isabel) Garcia wrestled OT versus Hazen, continually wrestling tough.”

Esvelt was pleased with how his team responded to a rugged loss in the Hazen match in the 138-pound bout.

Top-ranked Jeremy Vester squared off with Hazen’s sixth-ranked Derek Nichols. Earlier this season, Vester defeated Nichols in the title match of the Everett Classic, but Nichols caught Vester in a throw late in the third round of the rematch and earned a pin.

“That was huge for Hazen,” Esvelt said. “I was impressed how quickly our team gathered themselves to finish the match.

“We will see Hazen again at sub-regionals, which should make some matches very exciting there as well.”

Oak Harbor (6-4) takes on Wesco North leader Everett (9-1) in a home match at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23.

Oak Harbor 36, Hazen 26

106: Garcia lost 8-6.

113: Garrett Stahl lost by pin.

120: Aaron Fletcher won by forfeit.

126: Bertram won by pin.

132: Lym lost 5-0.

138: Vester lost by pin.

145: Piper won 8-6.

152: Johnston won by pin.

160: Double forfeit.

170: Nick Dugin won 13-4.

182: Martin Powers won by forfeit.

195: Double forfeit.

220: Austin Taylor lost by pin.

285: Tyler Adamson won by forfeit.

Oak Harbor 36, Highline 33.

106: Garcia lost by pin.

113: Stahl won 13-2.

120: Fletcher lost by pin.

126: Bertram won by pin.

132: Lym won 14-0.

138: Vester won by forfeit.

145: Zack Aketch lost by technical fall.

152: Piper won 15-3.

160: Johnston won by pin.

170: Dugin lost 12-2.

182: Powers lost by win.

195: Double forfeit.

220: Taylor lost by pin.

285: Adamson won by pin.