Oak Harbor’s Jeremy Vester was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Wrestler on his way to winning the 138-pound class at the 14th annual Graham Morin Memorial Tournament at Bellingham’s Squalicum High School Saturday, Dec. 20.

Wildcat Mark Johnston also claimed first place, rolling to a 15-0 win in the 152-pound finals.

As a team, the Wildcats placed fourth out of 12 teams, scoring 127 points. Port Angeles won with 236.5.

The finish for Oak Harbor, coach Peter Esvelt said, was “great considering we focused on wrestling at weight and not filling each individual weight class.”

“As a team, I think we put together a better line up,” he added, “and we are starting to have success once we get our wrestlers into the right spot.”

The Wildcats entered two wrestlers at 126 pounds, three at 285 and none in four classes.

At 285, Jackson Constant and Tyler Adamson finished 2-3 and Sam Zook was sixth.

In all, nine of the 13 Wildcats who participated placed in the top six.

Christian Bertram (126 pounds) finished third, dropping his semifinal match in double overtime.

Robert Pennington, just a freshman, was third at 106.

Brycin McIntyre (160) and Nate Mecom (182), wrestling in their first varsity tournament, placed sixth.

In the latest Washington Wrestling Report rankings, which came out Dec. 14, Vester was listed first at 138, Johnston fourth at 160, Bertram seventh at 132 and Constant 10th at 285.

Oak Harbor competes at the Everett Classic at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 3.

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Oak Harbor’s Mark Johnston takes down Ferndale’s Cory Slaughter Sarturday. Johnston finished first in the 152-pound class. Photo by Jim Waller.