The Oak Harbor High School wrestling team’s Senior Night celebration was capped with 56-22 thumping of visiting Marysville Getchell Thursday, Jan. 29.
“It was great; it was fun,” Wildcat coach Peter Esvelt said about the big win over the Chargers (0-5, 4-9) that wrapped up the regular season and helped Oak Harbor (2-3, 5-6), the defending North champions, finish in a three-way tie for third in the division.
Three Wildcat seniors wrestled, and all finished their home careers with a win. A fourth senior, Jeremy Vester (138 pounds), won by forfeit.
The match started at 285 pounds, and a senior fittingly set the tone for the night. Jackson Constant won with a first-round pin (1:36).
Junior William Nickelson followed with a forfeit at 106, then Oak Harbor won three straight to take a 28-0 lead.
Junior Garrett Stahl (113, 1:04) and freshman Aaron Fletcher (113, 1:53) each earned falls, and senior Christian Bertram (126) won 9-0.
After sophomore William Stuntz (132) lost 15-2, Oak Harbor won four more bouts, starting with Vester’s forfeit.
Junior Dymond Piper (145, 3:20) and sophomore Nick Dugin (160, 2:33) sandwiched pins around Mark Johnston’s 14-4 win at 152.
That lifted Oak Harbor to a 50-4 lead.
From there, the Wildcats lost three of the final four matches. The only win was a forfeit for junior Martin Powers at 182.
Sophomore Nate Mecom (170, 1:06), sophomore Cameron Robards (195, :20) and junior Austin Taylor (220, 1:53) all lost by falls.
Oak Harbor will compete in the eight-team subregional tournament at Stanwood High School at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6, and 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. The finals will start about 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
The tournament will include the six Wesco 3A North teams and Hazen and Kennedy Catholic, the only two 3A schools in the Seamount League.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the regional tournament at Marysville-Pilchuck Saturday, Feb. 14.
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(Aaron Fletcher works for a first-round pin over Marysville Getchell’s Aiden Noel. Photo by John Fisken.)
