Cody Fakkema and Hunter Vail won their weight classes and the Oak Harbor High School wrestling team placed second in the prestigious Graham Morin Memorial Tournament at Squalicum High School in Bellingham Saturday, Dec. 17.
Eleven of the Wildcats’ 15 wrestlers earned top five finishes to help Oak Harbor pick up 172.5 points. Snohomish won the 12-team tournament with 225.
Fakkema (126 pounds) defeated Woodinville’s Zach Garcia 7-2 and Vail (225) stopped Garcia’s teammate Jake Hollister 7-3 for the top spots.
Jahleel Vester (120) reached the finals and lost by a fall (2:58) to Ferndale’s Isaac Robinson, finishing second.
Joshua Crebbin (152), Collin Higingbotham (170) and Jeremy Alonzo (195) all earned thirds.
Fifth place went to Jeremy Vester (113), Mark Johnston (132), Ryuta Meany (138), Sheyenne Sams (145) and Jackson Constant (285).
Coach Mike Crebbin said, “It was a good tournament…We did lose a few close matches in the semifinals. We will continue our focus to polish our technique and minimize mistakes. I am proud of our performance, but I am more proud of the unsolicited praise from other coaches, the officials and spectators. They were all positive comments about the toughness and technique demonstrated by the Oak Harbor wrestlers.”
Oak Harbor will take part in the Anacortes Duals Wednesday, Dec. 21, starting at 10 a.m.
