It was fitting that a strong showing by upperclassmen lifted the Oak Harbor High School wrestling team to a 50-30 win over visiting Marysville Getchell on Senior Night.
Before the match, the Oak Harbor seniors were honored, then once the match started, four of the six 12th graders in the lineup scored points in their final home meet.
“These seniors are a special group for our program,” Oak Harbor coach Larry Falcon said. “Many of these guys have had to work hard to get where they are currently at. They are the continued foundation of the program.
“These seniors have learned and embodied our core covenants and motto, and teach the underclassmen what it means to be a young man and woman with integrity — always willing to stand-up to what is right and fair even though it may not be to their benefit — and having a great spirit for competition (and) being loyal to the team and family and leading a group of underclassmen and teaching them the true meaning of Cor Aut Mors.”
The Chargers took an early 18-15 lead, then Oak Harbor won five straight bouts to go up 44-18.
Only one of the 14 matches went the distance; senior Trevor Vaughn (170 pounds) won 8-2.
Other senior winners were Sam Zook (285, fall, :35), Sydney Thomas (106, fall, 1:24) and Nick Dugin (182, forfeit).
Falcon was especially happy with the showing of Thomas.
“Sidney is coming on pretty strong,” he said. “I’m impressed on how far he has come.”
The Wildcat sophomore class also put in a good night with Michael Fisken (195, fall, 1:20), Caleb Fitzgerald (126, technical fall, 4:00), Blake McBride (138, fall, :29), Dawson Seabolt (113, forfeit) and Zion Gomez (120, forfeit) picking up points.
Senior Lucas Nickelson (132, :33), sophomore Shingo Johnston (145, 4:56), junior Chris Brooks (152, 2:51), sophomore Ethan Pace (160, 3:00) and senior Abe Coleman (220, 1:32) all lost by pins.
“It was a good night,” coach Larry Falcon said. “It’s nice to get that first league win.”
The Wildcats will compete in the eight-team Taking Down Pancreatic Cancer Duals at Renton’s Hazen High School at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 21.
Oak Harbor (1-4, 3-5) closes out the regular season at Stanwood (0-3, 0-7) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The postseason begins with the Wesco North Tournament Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4, at Stanwood High School.
The Wildcats are primed for the postseason, according to Falcon.
“Everyone is progressing,” he said. “They are moving in the right direction.”
Michael Fisken pins Marysville-Getchell’s Micah Hoot in the first round. (Photo by John Fisken)
Caleb Fitzgerald prepares to take down MG’s Tannor Condon. (Photo by John Fisken)
Sydney Thomas gets ready to turn Getchell’s Joshua Turner on the way to a first period pin. (Photo by John Fisken)
Trevor Vaughn works on an escape in his 8-2 win over Marysville Getchell’s Cooper Armstrong. (Photo by John Fisken)
