Oak Harbor starts strong

Last year Marysville-Pilchuck ruined Oak Harbor’s league-opener, this year the Wildcats returned the favor.

In their first league meet of the season Thursday night, the Cats dominated the Tomahawks on their home mat, 42-18. The victory kept Oak Harbor undefeated with an overall record of 4-0.

“It’s a good beginning, we’re definitely on the right track,” head coach Brian Farmer said.

Taking a 21-12 lead through the first nine bouts, the Cats poured on the points in the final five matches of the night, with three first-round pins and one decision.

Junior Chris Wichers (140 pounds) opened the flood gates with a pin at 1 minute 50 seconds into the first round. Seniors Tony Nicolas (145) and Patrick O’Brien (171) gathered the other two quick pins for the Cats.

“We broke away at the end, but I was really pleased with all our matches, even the ones we lost,” Farmer said.

Other key wins for the Cats came from senior Ryan Lange (189), senior Blake Ward (215), senior Michael Davis (275), Steve Lemme (125) and senior Grayson Miller (135).

One of the things Farmer was most happy with from his team was their ability to avoid getting pinned.

“We gave up only one pin,” he said. “It’s not only about winning, it’s about not giving up the points.”

Oak Harbor competes in the second day of the Blaine Tournament at 10 a.m., today, Dec. 13.

“It’s one of the toughest tournaments in the state,” Farmer said.

The Wildcats have their next league meet on Tuesday, Dec. 16 at Snohomish and return home to compete against Cascade at 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 18.

Oak Harbor 42, Marysville 18

189-R. Lang (OH) dec. Day 8-3; 215-Ward (OH) dec. Alexander 9-5; 275-Davis (OH) pinned Moynihan 1:33, 2nd; 103-Kubec (MP) dec. Miller 7-4; 112-Barnes (MP) dec. Pegues 4-3; 119-Nye (MP dec. R. Lemme 6-5; 125-S. Lemme (OH) pinned Fuller, 1:10, 1st; 130-Hopkins (MP) dec. J. Lang 12-7; 135-Miller (OH) dec. Escalante 7-2; 140-Wichers (OH) pinned Michel, 1:50, 1st; 145-Nicholas (OH) pinned Johnson, 1:37; 152-Clark (OH) dec. Haugen 7-2; 160-Orr (MP) pinned Soptic, :31, 1st. 171-O'Brien (OH) pinned Masten, 1:26, 1st. Records-Oak Harbor 1-0 in league, 4-0 overall. M-P 0-1, 2-1.

Cats slam South teams

Oak Harbor wrestlers continued their dominance over WesCo South opponents, picking up two non-league wins over Kamiak and Mountlake Terrace in a double-dual meet at OHHS Tuesday night.

The Wildcats defeated Kamiak 60-12 in the first matchup, helped by eight team pins.

Sophomore Jeff Lange (130) gave perhaps the most gritty performance of the night when he battled back for a 6-3 deficit late in the third round to take an 8-7 decision over the Knights’ Sean Rich.

The Wildcats continued to roll against Mountlake Terrace, who they shut out 72-0.

Oak Harbor grapplers put forth 10 team pins, six of which came in the first round.

Trailing 8-2 late in the third round, junior Jeremy Soptich (160) had arguably the most exciting pin of the night when he battled back to pin Andrew Lindaas with 14 seconds left in the bout.

In their only three matches with WesCo South teams this season, Oak Harbor outscored their opponents by a combined score of 201-15.

Oak Harbor 60, Kamiak 12

103-Stanford (OH) dec. Baldwin, 11-6; 112-K. Miller (OH) pinned Voice, 1:06, third; 119-N. Huss (K) pinned R. Lemme, 1:19, third; 125-Munro (K) pinned S. Lemme, 1:19, first; 130- Lang (OH) dec. Rich, 8-7; 135-G. Miller (OH) dec. Bennett, 3-2; 140-Wichers (OH) pinned Gray, 1:52, second; 145-Nicolas (OH) pinned Wallace, 1:08, first; 152-Clark (OH) dec. Cannon, 8-4; 160-Soptich (OH) pinned Burke, 1:35, second; 171-O’Brien (OH) pinned Munoz, 1:49, first; 189-Lange (OH) pinned Ko, 1:27, second; 215-Ward (OH) pinned Churck, 1:18, first; 275-Davis (OH) pinned J. Huss, 1:03.

Oak Harbor 72, Mountlake Terrace 0

103-Stanford (OH) pinned J. Floresca, 1:149, first; 112-K. Miller (OH) dec. Gentry, 8-3; 119-R. Lemme. (OH) pinned D. Floresca, 1:18, first; 125-S. Lemme (OH) pinned McVay, 1:05, second; 130- Lang (OH) pinned Call, 1:16, first; 135-G. Miller (OH) dec. Cundy, 12-5; 140-Wichers (OH) pinned Davis, 1:32, first; 145-Nicolas (OH) pinned Brady, 1:09, first; 152-Clark (OH) dec. Myers 9-7; 160-Soptich (OH) pinned Lindaas, 1:46, third; 171-O’Brien (OH) pinned Smith, 1:21, second; 189-Lange (OH) dec. Jerome, 10-6; 215-Ward (OH) pinned Cook, 1:59, second; 275-Davis (OH) pinned Miyasato, 1:25, first.

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