Oak Harbor sends 8 to Mat Classic | Wrestling

All seven Oak Harbor High School boy wrestlers who qualified for the regional tournament finished in the top four of their classes and secured trips to the state meet, Mat Classic XXVI, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, at the Tacoma Dome.

By Jim Waller • February 16, 2014 3:53 pm

All seven Oak Harbor High School boy wrestlers who qualified for the regional tournament finished in the top four of their classes to secure a trip to the state meet, Mat Classic XXVI, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 21 and 22, at the Tacoma Dome.

The Wildcat girls, however, struggled in their regional meet; only one of the five who competed earned a trip to state.

As a team, Oak Harbor boys finished fourth in the 18-team field at Seattle’s Nathan Hale High School Saturday, Feb. 15. Ferndale won with 215 points; Oak Harbor collected 137.5.

The schools from Oak Harbor’s sub-regional dominated the regional team race, taking the top five spots, followed by the 11 Metro schools.

Jeremy Vester’s upset win in the 132-pound finals highlighted the strong showing by the Wildcats. Christian Bertram (113) and Jahleel Vester (138) also claimed titles. Mark Johnston (152) and Jackson Constant (285) finished second; Ray Quinday (220) was third and Jacob Dugin placed fourth.

Although Jeremy Vester entered his title match against Eastside Catholic’s Matt Iwicki ranked sixth by the Washington Wrestling Report and with a 38-1 season record, he was not favored. Iwicki is ranked No. 1, coming off a state title at 120 pounds last year and third the previous season.

The pair headed into the third period tied at 2, but a near fall by Vester in the final minute wrapped up the 7-3 win.

In other title matches, 11th-ranked Bertram thumped O’Dea’s Kerry Broderick 16-1, and third-ranked Jahleel Vester whipped Bainbridge Island’s fifth-ranked Jack Miller 11-3.

Tenth-ranked Johnston lost 13-6 in the finals to 12th-ranked Dylan Reed of Bainbridge Island.
Constant, ranked 12th, was edged 2-1 by 11th-ranked Chris Hernandez of Ferndale.

After losing 3-1 to ninth-ranked and eventual champion Conner Heger of Eastside Catholic in semifinals, Quinday came back to win the consolation final 6-2.

For the girls, sophomore Amder Cramsey-Behnke (235) finished fourth and qualified for state. Freshmen Meredith Bain (170) and Caitlynn Woodworth (145) finished sixth.

Mount Baker won the tournament at Bellingham High School with 206 points; Oak Harbor finished 14th out of 36 schools with 24.

Oak Harbor boys results:

Christian Bertram, 113 pounds (first): won by pin, :36; won 7-1; won 16-1.

Jeremy Vester, 132 (first): won by pin, 3:15; won 5-2; won 7-3.

Jahleel Vester, 138 (first): won by pin, 1:02; won by pin, 5:12; won 11-3.

Mark Johnston, 152 (second): won by pin, 1:59; won 14-4; lost 13-6.

Jacob Dugin, 195 (fourth): won by pin, :56; lost 17-1; won by pin, 1:33; lost 16-2.

Ray Quinday, 220 (third): won by pin, 1:44; lost 3-1; won by pin, :52; won 6-2.

Jackson Constant (285): won 9-4; won by pin, 3:52; lost 2-1.

Oak Harbor girls results:
Tricia Desquitado, 112: lost 14-2; lost 12-0.

Deasha O’Brien, 112: lost 11-4; lost 5-1.

Caitlynn Woodworth, 145 (sixth): won 9-7; lost by pin, 1:23; lost 8-3; lost by injury default.