The Oak Harbor High School wrestling team placed third, thanks to an individual title by Jeremy Vester and five other top-three finishes, in the 18-team Lynden Tournament Saturday, Jan. 24.

The Wildcats also lost a Wesco dual match 53-19 to first-place Everett Friday, Jan. 23.

In addition Vester’s title at 138 pounds at Lynden, Dymond Piper (145) and Mark Johnston (152) placed second and Christian Bertram (126) finished third.

Oak Harbor placed three in the top five at 285 pounds. Jackson Constant and Sam Zook tied for third, and Tyler Adamson (285) placed fifth, losing the match for third to teammate Zook.

“We are blessed and cursed with three wrestlers at 285, all three of which could make it to state, but we allowed only two in post-season tournaments,” coach Peter Esvelt said.

Glacier Peak captured the team title with 211.5 points. Snohomish was next with 181, followed by Oak Harbor with 151.5. The Wildcats did not enter wrestlers in three weight classes.

Esvelt said Vester “wrestled great, pinning in the finals.”

He added that Piper is “continuing to get better and better” and Nick Dugin (160) and Zack Aketch (145) “wrestled well, showed improvement.”

Against Everett (10-1), Bertram (126, pin, :37), Vester (138, 13-4), Johnston (152, 6-1) and Constant (285, pin. :09) all won.

Though Piper (145), Dugin (160) and William Stuntz (132) lost, Esvelt said he was impressed with their matches.

“We are showing growing pains (with a young team),” Esvelt said. “Every freshman and sophomore showed a good attitude and a willingness to get better.”

Oak Harbor (6-5) wraps up the regular season this week with a pair of 7 p.m. matches, traveling to Stanwood (5-5) Tuesday, Jan. 27, and hosting Marysville Getchell (4-7) Thursday, Jan. 29.

Oak Harbor results from the Lynden Tournament:

113, Garrett Stahl: lost by pin; bye; lost 8-7.

120, Aaron Fletcher: won 17-0; lost by pin; lost by pin.

126, Bertram (third place): bye; won 9-2; lost 7-2; won 3-2.

132, Stuntz: won by pin; lost by pin; lost 8-7.

138, Vester (first): bye, won by pin, won by pin, won by pin.

145, Piper (second): won 17-14; won 8-4; won by injury default; lost by pin.

145, Aketch: won 5-3 (overtime, pigtail match); lost by pin; won 12-1; lost 8-5.

152, Johnston (second): won by pin; won by pin; won by pin, lost 6-3.

160, Dugin: won by pin; lost 15-1; won by pin; lost 9-7.

170, Nate Mecom: lost by pin; bye; lost by pin.

170, Brycin McIntyre: lost 12-4; bye; lost by pin.

182, Martin Powers: lost by pin; bye; lost by injury default.

285, Constant (third): bye; won by pin; lost 10-4; won by pin.

285, Zook (third): lost by pin; bye; won by pin; won by pin; won by pin.

285, Adamson (fifth): won by pin; won by pin; lost by pin; lost by pin.

Oak Harbor results versus Everett:

120, Fletcher: lost by pin.

126, Bertram: won by pin.

132, Stuntz: lost 12-1.

138, Vester: won 13-4.

145, Piper: lost 12-1.

152, Johnston: won 6-1.

160, Dugin: lost 6-4.

170, McIntyre: lost by pin.

182, Powers: lost by pin.

190, Josh McKenzie: lost by pin.

220, Austin Taylor: lost by pin.

285, Constant: won by pin.

106, Robert Pennington: lost by pin.

113, Garrett Stahl: lost by pin.

(Oak Harbor’s Garrett Stahl, top, takes on Everett’s Sean Underhill. Photo by John Fisken.)