Doing what the coaches tell you to do and working hard in practice equals success in athletic endeavors.
In Thursday’s home wrestling match, the Oak Harbor Wildcats did just that and totally dominated Mountlake Terrace, earning a 69-3 victory.
The Hawks were unable to fill out all the weight classes and as a result had to forfeit four bouts, but Ben Page, Jarred Tyson, Zach Loescher, Brian Howard and Royce Cardwell were all pin fall winners for Oak Harbor.
In addition, freshman Brandon Stratton won by technical fall with a 16-0 victory and John Tuttle scored a major decision victory with a 15-2 win.
“We came out with better intensity and preparation than we did last Friday,” coach Mike Crebbin said. “That’s what we want to do, build on each match.”
The match began with Stratton’s 16-0 victory over Brenden Khuu at 135 pounds.
“We’ve been working hard in practice and running a lot,” Stratton said. “It’s nice to come out here and get a win.”
In the following 140-pound bout, Page pinned Adoan Caselton and Oak Harbor freshman Tucker Lundstrom was a 9-3 victor over Tyler Goslin at 145 pounds.
“It was pretty nice out there,” Page said. “I knew this guy was a bit young, so I just tried to work on my technique.”
The bout between Tuttle and Zach Leonard at 152 was close early on, but the Wildcat senior’s experience took over and he was able to win by a major decision, 15-2.
“People come out pretty hard and then endurance takes over and will pull you through,” Tuttle said. “I have a lot of things I need to work on and I made a lot of mistakes, but those are things I can fix for next time.”
One of the more improved wrestlers on the Wildcat team is Howard in the 285-pound weight division, and the big man pinned Tyler Carson with two seconds remaining in the first round.
“I did my best.” Howard said. “I’m still learning, still learning, and doing what the coaches tell me to do.”
Crebbin said he was pleased with the way the Wildcats performed in the match.
“We still have a long way to go, but we’re going in the right direction. They’re doing what we’re asking them to do as far as moves,” he said.
Oak Harbor’s grapplers wrestle at the Spud Wally Invitational in Sedro-Woolley today, and open WesCo North competition Tuesday at Snohomish.
Oak Harbor 69, Mountlake Terrace 3
130 pounds — Colton Elliot, OH, forfeit winner; 135 pounds — Brandon Stratton, OH, def. Brenden Khuu, MT, 16-0 (technical fall); 140 pounds — Ben Page, OH, pinned Adoan Caselton, MT, 2:15; 145 pounds — Tucker Lundstrom, OH, def. Tyler Goslin, MT, 9-3; 152 pounds — John Tuttle, OH, def. Zach Leonard, MT, 15-2 (major decision); 160 pounds — Jarred Tyson, OH, pinned Jacob Leonard, MT, 5:06; 171 pounds — Zach Loescher, OH, pinned Noah Wright, MT, :33; 189 pounds — Taylor Call, MT, def. Jake Lundstrom, OH 17-12; 215 pounds — Chris Neumiller, OH, forfeit winner; 285 pounds — Brian Howard, OH, pinned Tyler Carson, MT, 1:58; 103 pounds — Brandon Strickland, OH, forfeit winner; 112 pounds — Cory Trimbur, OH, def. Darby Martin, MT, 19-12; 119 pounds — Royce Cardwell, OH, pinned Eric Quinteiro, MT, 3:44; 125 pounds — Connar Zimmerman, OH, forfeit winner.
