Fitzgerald takes first, Wildcats eighth at Morin Invitational / Wrestling

By Jim Waller • December 18, 2017 1:30 am
Oak Harbor’s Caleb Fitzgerald looks to the bench for some advice in his championship win over Marysville-Pilchuck’s Austin Davis. (Photo by John Fisken)
Oak Harbor’s Caleb Fitzgerald looks to the bench for some advice in his championship win over Marysville-Pilchuck’s Austin Davis. (Photo by John Fisken)

Caleb Fitzgerald won an individual championship and Oak Harbor placed eighth as a team at the 17-team Graham Morin Invitational Wrestling Tournament at Bellingham’s Squalicum High School Saturday, Dec. 16.

Edmonds-Woodway won the team title with 177.5 points; Oak Harbor posted 88 even though it did not enter a wrestler in three weight classes.

Three Wildcats placed in the meet. In addition to Fitzgerald (126 pounds), Blake McBride (145) and Michael Fisken (220) each tied for third in their respective classes.

Fitzgerald opened the meet with two pins, then won 9-4 in the semifinals before pinning Austin Davis of Marysville-Pilchuck in the finals.

McBride just missed reaching the finals after losing 1-0 in the semis. He won 18-2 and 5-1 before the loss, then won by a fall in the match for third place.

Fisken was also edged in the semifinals, losing 3-1 after receiving a bye and winning 11-2. A pin in his last match secured a tie for third.

Oak Harbor (1-4) returns to Squalicum for the nine-team Storm Duals at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Oak Harbor results at the Morin Invitational

106, Jamal Graham: won 8-6; lost 8-0; won by forfeit; lost 10-3.

106, Corbyn Taylor: lost by fall; bye; lost 15-1.

120, Jakob Dailey: lost by fall; won 15-0; lost 4-2.

126, Caleb Fitzgerald (first place): won by fall; won by fall; won 9-4; won by fall.

132, Giovanni Ribay: won 6-4; lost by fall; won by fall; lost by fall.

138, Dylan Sanchez: lost by fall; won 8-7; lost 7-2.

145, Blake McBride (third place): won 18-2; won 5-1; lost 1-0; won by fall.

152, Chris Brooks: won by fall; lost by fall; lost by fall.

160, Noah Hangan: lost by fall; won 9-7; lost by fall.

170, Ethan Pace: won by fall; lost by fall; won by fall; lost by fall.

220, Michael Fisken (third place): bye; won 11-2; lost 3-1; won by fall.

285, Nathaniel Nunez: won 5-4; lost by fall; lost by fall.

Michael Fisken pins Robbie Simanton of Edmonds-Woodway in the match for third place.(Photo by John Fisken)

Michael Fisken pins Robbie Simanton of Edmonds-Woodway in the match for third place. (Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor’s Blake McBride, front, works to free himself from O’Dea’s Nate Balinbin. McBride went on to pin Balinbin to claim third place.(Photo by John Fisken)

Oak Harbor’s Blake McBride, front, works to free himself from O’Dea’s Nate Balinbin. McBride went on to pin Balinbin to claim third place. (Photo by John Fisken)