Oak Harbor High School wrestling coach Mike Crebbin said he used the Lynden Tournament Saturday, Jan. 14, to “get some varsity experience for our second and third kids.”
“Our goal,” Crebbin said, “was not focused on team place…We got a lot of extras into the tournament as non-scorers. Many of these kids will score important team points at the sub-regional tournament and they need to be exposed to that level of competition.”
Crebbin sat several of his regulars who were nearing their season limit of 32 matches. Also, Cody Fakkema missed because of a concussion but should return this week; Hunter Vail is out for the year with a back injury.
Oak Harbor placed ninth in the 14-team tournament with 93 points. Mount Baker grabbed first with 243.
The Vester brothers, Jeremy (106 pounds) and Jahleel (120), led the Wildcats by earning second places.
Both rallied from five-point deficits in the semifinals to reach the championship bouts.
Crebbin said, “In the finals, both faced wrestlers who had beaten them already this season. While they didn’t win, each closed the gap with opponents they will see again at districts and regionals.”
Three other Wildcats placed: CJ Shavers, third, 170; David Payne, fifth, 160; and Carl Meders, fifth, 195.
Five female members of the Oak Harbor wrestling team took part in the girls round-robin portion of the tournament.
Jen Fremd (152), who placed fifth in the state last year, paced the Wildcats with a 3-1 record. Her lone loss was to defending state champion Raney Leper of Mount Baker. Leper won by a fall in the second round in what coach Larry Falcon called “a great match.”
Brittany Johnson (170) went 2-1, Kylene Ayer (113) 1-1, Desiree Dillaman 1-2, Brittany Kjos (132) 0-3 and Aimee Oliver (152) 0-3.
Johnston, Ayer and Dillaman each recorded a fall.
Oak Harbor (4-1, 12-2) goes to Meadowdale (2-1, 3-5) Tuesday, Jan. 24, and hosts Marysville Getchell (2-2, 8-6) Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m.
Lynden Tournament results:
106, Jeremy Vester, second place: won 16-0, won 7-6, lost by fall.
113, Danny Ross: lost by fall, lost by fall.
120, Jahleel Vester, second: won by fall, won by fall, won 22-16, lost 13-4.
120, Greg Perner: lost by fall, lost by fall.
126, Ben Pralle: won 11-3, lost by fall, lost 11-4.
132, Blake Pein-Neal: lost by fall, lost by fall.
138, Nathanael Stanford: lost by fall, won by fall, lost by fall.
138, Ryuta Meany: lost by fall, lost by fall.
145, Brian Ewing: lost by fall, lost by fall.
145, Noel Cheeseboro: lost by fall, lost by fall.
145, Sebastian Ceasar: lost by fall, lost by fall.
152, Alex Rutter: lost 12-4, lost by fall.
152, Kekai Tarrant: lost 4-1, lost 4-2.
160, Payne, fifth: won by fall, won 15-6, lost 6-2, lost 5-2.
160, Brody DeDobbleare: lost by fall, won 13-9, lost by fall.
170, Shavers, third: won by fall, won by fall, lost by fall, won 17-15.
182, Josh Orritt: lost by fall, lost 4-2.
195, Jeremy Alonzo: lost by fall, lost by fall.
195, Meders, fifth: lost by fall, won by fall, won by fall, won by fall, won by fall, lost by fall.
220, Tyler Adamson: lost by fall, won by fall, lost by fall.
220, Jacob Dugin: won by fall, lost by fall, lost by fall.
285, Jackson Constant: lost by fall, lost by fall.
285, Austin Hwang: lost by fall, lost by fall.
