Back and forth it went.
One close decision for Oak Harbor, one close decision for Snohomish. One pin for Oak Harbor, one pin for Snohomish.
When the dust cleared and settled, however, it was the visiting Panther squad that used its heavyweight strength to nab a 44-25 victory over the Wildcats Tuesday night.
“We had some close matches that we won and some heartbreakers too,” OHHS head coach Brian Farmer said after the meet. “We just need to learn from our mistakes and go on.”
With a 26-25 Panther lead and three matches to go, Snohomish rattled off two pins at 215 and 275 pounds, along with a forfeit at 103 pounds that sealed victory.
“The final score didn’t really indicate how close it was,” Farmer said.
Senior Karlson Miller (112) started the evening off strong for the Wildcats, dominating with a 16-4 major decision over Kasey Kalloch.
Snohomish battled back with a decision and a pin at the next two weights.
Oak Harbor junior Josh Stratton (130) gave Oak Harbor a lead again, picking up a second-round pin over Bryan Hise after he trailed early in the match.
After suffering a loss to pin at 135 pounds, Oak Harbor senior captain Chris Wichers (140) returned the Wildcats to the lead with a second-round pin over Andrew St. Marie.
Junior Jeff Lang (145) kept things rolling for the Wildcats, putting on one of the more exciting moves of the night on Panther senior Andrew McDonnell. With his back to the mat, Lang put McDonnell in a front headlock, reversed him to his back and pinned him 30 seconds into the second round. The move sent Farmer off his chair and into the air with a fist pump.
“Wasn’t that something,” Farmer said. “That was just a phenomenal take down.”
Three ensuing losses to decisions put Oak Harbor down 26-22, but OHHS junior Mark Radach had one more trick up his sleeve at 189 pounds. Down 14-12 with four seconds to go in his match against Nick Mundell, Radach did the near impossible. He earned a one-point escape, then quickly pulled a double-leg reversal for a two-point take down just as the buzzer sounded.
“I couldn’t lose it for the team, I just had to come through and win it,” Radach said.
Unfortunately for Oak Harbor, Radach’s thrilling last-second victory was its final win of the night. Snohomish seniors Jeff Steward (215) and Mac Stach (275) gained respective pins over David Smith and Daniel Varn, along with a forfeit at 103 pounds that capped off an 18-point rally.
Cascade 30, Oak Harbor 27
Oak Harbor lost another close meet to a league opponent, falling 30-27 at Cascade Thursday night.
Tied 27-27 going into the final match, Cascade’s Ben Kendo nabbed a 7-0 decision over David Smith at 215 pounds to clinch the meet.
Like Tuesday several matches could have gone either way.
Oak Harbor won close decisions in victories from Karlson Miller (112), Robert Lemme (119), David Wasickanin (130), and Mike Poggie (160).
Chris Wichers (140) earned his seventh pin in eight matches, taking down his opponent with just under a minute remaining in the third and final period.
Senior transfer Joeseph Vigil (275) impressed in his first match for Oak Harbor, gathering the Wildcats’ only other pin 30 seconds into the first round.
For the second meet in a row Oak Harbor had to forfeit a match at 103 pounds, costing them an automatic six points and possibly the meet.
“That’s huge to have to give up a match,” Farmer said.
He said after Tuesday’s meet he hopes to have someone make the 103 pound weight as soon as possible.
With the win Cascade also took the second place trophy from last weekend’s Battle at the Border Tournament in Blaine. The Wildcats and Bruins tied for second with 155 points and decided with the winner of the dual would take the trophy home.
Although the two losses were a difficult start to the league season, Farmer believes strongly the Wildcats will only get better as the season progresses.
“We believe that our guys are going to work hard and do the changes and corrections and proper hard work it takes to get them where they want to go,” he said.
The Wildcats travel to Sedro-Woolley at 10 a.m., today, Dec. 18. for a tournament.
They have their next dual meet at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 21 at home against Ferndale. The meet is a makeup to the scheduled Dec. 2 season-opener that was cancelled due to Ferndale making it to the 3A state football championship. Because the meet will take place during sixth period it will act as an optional assembly for Oak Harbor students
Oak Harbor vs. Snohomish
103-Their (S) won by forfeit; 112-Miller (OH) major dec. Calloch, 16-4; 119-Walker (S) def Lemme 7-2; 125-Wolff (S) pinned Wasickanin, 2:54; 130-Stratton (OH) pinned Harness, 3:38; 135-Hise (S) pinned Dix, 1:47; 140-Wichers (OH) pinned St. Marie, 2:38 ; 145-Lange (OH) pinned McDonnell, 2:30; 152-Gere (S) dec Miller, 3-2; 160-Houck (S) major dec. Poggie, 20-5; 171-Bognar (S) dec O’Brien, 10-4; 189-Radach (OH) dec Mundell, 15-14; 215-Stewart (S) pinned Smith, 1:32; 275-Stach (S) pinned Varn, 2:10.
Oak Harbor vs. Cascade
103-Walt (C) won by forfeit; 112-K. Miller (OH) dec. Duncan, 6-4; 119-Lemme (OH) dec, Bates, 5-2; 125-Gilbertson (C) pinned Issacson, 1:02; 130-Wasickanin (OH) dec. Griffith, 4-3; 135-Johnson (C) pinned Dix, 5:00; 140-Wichers (OH) pinned Tran, 5:02; 145-Douglas (C) dec. Lang, 6-2; 152-Alyea (C) dec. J. Miller, 5-1; 160-Poggie (OH) dec. Morrison, 8-5; 171-Soptich (OH) dec. Vigoren, 9-5; 189-J. Kendo (C) dec. Radach, 9-2; 215-B. Kendo (C) dec. Smith, 7-0; 275-Vigil (OH) pinned Jury, :30.
