The Oak Harbor High School wrestling team earned a surprising third in the sub-regional meet in Sedro-Woolley last weekend, Feb. 4 and 5, and qualified eight wrestlers for this weekend’s regional meet at Glacier Peak.

The Wildcats, who had 14 wrestlers place in the top eight, earned 210 points to finish behind co-champions Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley with 221.5.

Oak Harbor finished second in the final Wesco 3A standings to Everett but finished ahead of the Seagulls at sub-regional. The Wildcat also placed above Ferndale, a team that finished ahead of Oak Harbor is several tournaments earlier this winter.

Oak Harbor also shined off the mat as coach Mike Crebbin was named the Northwest District Coach of the Year, and assistant coach Peter Esvelt earned the honor of Northern District Middle School Coach of the Year.

Crebbin said, “It’s nice to be recognized by your peers.” The award earned Crebbin a nomination as the Regional Coach of the Year.

Senior Corey Trimbur (103 pounds) and junior Brandon Stratton (145) captured sub-regional individual weight-class titles for the Wildcats, and sophomore Joshua Crebbin (152) placed second.

Junior Hunter Vail (third, 215), freshman Jahleel Vester (fourth, 112), sophomore Cody Fakkema (fourth, 119), junior Collin Higingbotham (fifth, 171) and senior Kyle Mellow (fifth, 285) also placed in the top five and advance to the regional tournament Saturday, Feb. 12, at Glacier Peak.

Other top eight finishes at sub-regional for Oak Harbor were earned by freshman Raymond Quinday (sixth, 285), junior Ben Pralle (seventh, 125), freshman Sheyenne Sams (seventh, 140), junior Justin Everett (seventh, 152), senior Steven Souza (seventh, 160) and junior David Payne (eighth, 135).

At the girls sub-regional at Bellingham’s Squalicum High School, Oak Harbor’s Jennifer Fremd grabbed first place and Bailey Martinez was third.

Coach Crebbin said finishing third was a “pleasant surprise” and it was “great to see our name at the top of the leader board” after the first rounds Friday.

Crebbin said Oak Harbor’s depth — it was able to put two wrestlers in all but three weight classes — helped the Wildcats earn third.

He said some of the freshmen wrestlers didn’t place but “wrestled their hearts out” to earn team points. He added, “It was a good end to their season; they all did a great job.”

Crebbin praised the work of all his wrestlers and was particularly pleased with Fakkema and Joshua Crebbin, who both finished higher than their seed.

Fakkema was seeded fifth and topped the fourth-seed to earn fourth, and Crebbin, the No. 4 seed, defeated the No. 1 seed 8-0 en route to his second place.

Coach Crebbin said of his son, “It was a good coming out for him; he is starting to wrestle with more confidence.”

Crebbin also mentioned the work of freshman Quinday who competed at 225 pounds in the 285-pound class.

Mike Crebbin said of his team: “They enjoy hard work and have a good time at practice; they encourage each other. They have great respect for each other, for everyone, and not because they are the best in their weight.”

Oak Harbor sub-regional results:

Trimbur (first, 103): pin, 1:38; 9-0, 7-6.

Vester (fourth, 112): pin, :47; 0-16; pin, :59; 13-0; 10-8; pinned, 4:53.

Walter Castillo (112): pinned, 1:50; bye; pinned, 4:51.

Fakkema (fourth, 119): pin, 1:52; pin, 5:50; 1-7; pin, 2:06; 7-20.

Pralle (seventh, 125): pinned, 2:40; bye; 7-3; pinned, 3:47; 2-0.

Ryuta Meany (130): pinned, 3:59; bye; 2-4.

Athan Taisague (130): pinned, 1:59; bye; pin, 2:40; pinned, 2:58.

Payne (eighth, 135): pin, 1:47; pinned, 4:23; injury default; 5-13.

Nathaniel Stanford (135): pin, 1:52; pinned, :57; pinned, 2:59.

Sams (seventh, 140): pin, 3:16; pinned, 5:07; 9-2; 6-17; 6-4.

Cayden Cosper (140): pinned, 1:26; bye; pin, :59; pinned, 2:00.

Stratton (first, 145): bye; pin, 1:11; pin, :41; pin, 1:07; pin, 3:11.

Devin Jensen (145): 13-16; bye; 0-9.

Crebbin (second, 152): pin, 2:56; pin, 1:19; 8-0; 7-9.

Everett (seventh, 152): pin, 3:42; pinned, 5:07; bye; pin, :36; pin, 4:00; 4-11.

Souza (seventh, 160): 6-7; pin, :35; 2-7; pin, 4:07.

Josh Orritt (160): 3-9; pinned, 5:12.

Higingbotham (fifth, 171): pin, 4:54; pin, 1:05; 0-10; pinned, 4:03; 8-6.

Kenny King (171): pinned, 1:28; pinned, 1:53.

Jeremy Alonzo (189): pinned, 1:36; bye, 2-5.

Peter Case-Smith (189): pin, 1:00; pinned, 1:19; pinned, 1:01.

Vail (third, 215): pin, :47; pin, :58; pinned, :52; pin, 1:20; 15-3.

Terry Joll (215): pinned, 3:08; bye; 6-10.

Mellow (fifth, 285): 0-4; bye, 3-0; pinned, 3:57; pin, 1:36.

Quinday (sixth, 285): pinned, :39; bye; pin, :38; pinned, 1:36.