A tough season got a little rougher on Thursday night.

The Oak Harbor wrestling team lost its eighth straight dual meet, falling 40-16 to previously winless Arlington.

“I’d like to see us win more, but we did have a lot of close matches,” senior captain Karlson Miller said of Thursday’s performance.

The Wildcats, who haven’t won a dual since their first meet of the season Dec. 7, stayed close early behind key efforts for their upper weights.

After the night’s first match at 171 pounds, Oak Harbor senior Jeremy Soptich (189) gained momentum for his team by pulling off a two-point reversal with 15 seconds left in his match for a 10-9 decision over Nick Ritter.

Joseph Vigil picked up another come-from-behind victory at 275 pounds. After 7-2 in the third period, Vigil gained six straight points, including a key two-point takedown with 20 seconds left, to get an 8-7 decision over Greg Ballew.

Senior captain Karlson Miller (112) continued his outstanding season, improving his record to 21-1 with a first round pin over Barton Myers. It was Miller’s 15th pin of the season.

Miller, who finished sixth in state last year, is already looking ahead to the coming weeks of tournament action.

“There’s going to be some hard competition,” he said. “I’m aiming for top four in the state, at least.”

Junior Jeff Lang gathered Oak Harbor’s only other win Thursday, gaining a 13-5 major decision over the Eagles’ Joe Woodard.

OHHS lost earlier in the week to Marysville-Pilchuck, 38-22. Those picking up wins for the Cats included: Miller (112), Rob Lemme (119), David Wasickanin (125), Josh Stratton (130), Miles Hartt (145) and Sean O’Brien (171).

The Wildcats are now 0-7 in league and 1-8 overall. They have their final dual meet of the season Monday, Jan. 24 at Mount Vernon.

171-J. Myers (A) dec. O’Brien, 13-8; 189-Soptich (OH) dec. Ritter, 10-9; 215-I. Spear (A) pinned Smith, 4:53; 275-Vigil (OH) dec. Ballew, 8-7; 103-Goheen (A) won by forfeit; 112-K, Miller (OH) pinned B. Myers, 1:06; 119-Nagel (A) dec. Lemme, 5-4; 125-Guzman (A) maj. dec. Wasickanin, 15-4; 130-Lewis (A) dec. Stratton, 12-6; 135-Lang (OH) maj. dec. Woodard, 13-5; 140-Byers (A) dec. Marriott, 13-7; 145-J. Spear (A) Hartt, 11-7; 152-Irwin (A) dec. J. Miller, 10-5; 160-Morin (A) pinned Boggie, 1:27.