Four Oak Harbor High School wrestlers came through the consolation bracket to place in the state meet at the Tacoma Dome Saturday, Feb. 19.
All four posted 2-1 records Friday to qualify for Saturday’s action.
Junior Jennifer Fremd led the way with a fifth at 140 pounds in the girls’ bracket.
She started Saturday with a pin (4:45), lost 5-0 and then won the battle for fifth with a fall (2:42).
Junior Brandon Stratton (145 pounds) placed seventh, losing 3-1 Saturday morning before winning with a fall (3:50).
Senior Corey Trimbur (103) finished eighth, losing twice Saturday (8-4 and by pin, 4:58).
Freshman Jahleel Vester (112) placed eighth, winning 9-7 and then losing twice (fall, 4:11; 1-9) Saturday.
Sophomore Cody Fakkema (119) and senior Bailey Martinez (140) won one of three matches Friday and were eliminated.
Vester qualified for the tournament as an alternate and didn’t know he would wrestle until Friday morning when a Shorewood wrestler failed the skin test.
After losing to the eventual champion in his first bout, Vester recorded two upsets to make the medal rounds, according to Oak Harbor coach Mike Crebbin.
Crebbin said, “I’m very happy with the way we wrestled. We haven’t had that many people reach the second day (medal rounds) in a long time.
“Jennifer wrestled really well. It was nice to see Corey make the medal stand his last year. There was a lot of parity in Brandon’s weight class; any weekend there would be different results.”
He added, “It was a really fun year, great individuals; it wasn’t just about winning. The coaching staff also really clicked together and with the kids.”
The Oak Harbor boys finished 31st with 21 points; Enumclaw won the tournament with 145.5.
The girls were 36th with 10 points. Sedro-Woolley earned the state title with 79.
