Ten young wrestlers from the Orcas Island Wrestling Club traveled to Mount Vernon High School to compete in the WWKWL Mount Vernon Pitbull Classic novice tournament on Dec. 15.

Out of a total of 31 matches, the team earned 21 wins and incurred 10 losses. Of the 21 wins, 10 resulted in the Orcas wrestlers pinning their opponents, and of the 10 losses, only 3 were lost by being pinned. The young athletes were awarded combined totals of six 1^st place, one 2^nd, one 3^rd, one 4^th, and one 5^th place standings in their respective age and weight brackets.

Brooks Hawley took 3^rd place in the 6U 38.8-42 lb class. He lost his 1st match, won his 2^nd match with a 13-4 major decision, and lost his 3^rd match to an 8-0 major decision.

Caden King took 1^st place in the 8U 54.6-55.4 lb class. He won his 1^st match with a 13-3 major decision, won his 2^nd match with a 9-2 decision, and won his 3^rd match with a 14-3 major decision.

Elliot Wooding took 2^nd place in the 8U 45.8-47 lb class. He won his first match by pinning his opponent in 35 seconds of the first round, lost his second match by a 5-0 decision, and won his third match by a 17-0 technical fall.

David Nunez took 1^st place in the 8U 70.9-76 lb class. He won his first match by pinning his opponent in 16 seconds of the first round, won his second match with a 25 second pin, and won his third match with a 1-minute pin.

Cru Hawley took 1^st place in the 10U 65.6-67.4 lb class. He won his first match by a 13-0 major decision, won his second match with a 12-4 major decision, and won his third match with a 17-11 decision.

Anthony “Louie” Averna took 1^st place in the 10U 72-78.2 lb class. He won his first match with a 34 second pin, won his second match with an overtime sudden victory score of 12-9, and won his third match with a pin in 53 seconds.

Weston Wooding placed 1^st in the 10U 81.5-83.3 lb class. He won his first match with a pin at a time of one minute, won his second match by pinning his opponent in 1 minute, 56 seconds, and won his third match with a 47-second pin.

Aria Griffin placed 5^th in the 12U 62.6-66.5 lb class. She won her first match by getting pinned, lost her second match by a close 18-15 decision, lost her third match by a 9-0 major decision, and lost her fourth match by an 8-5 decision.

Giovanni “Geo” Averna placed 1^st in the 12U 65-70 lb class. He won his first by a medical forfeit in which his opponent was injured during the match and could not continue wrestling. He won his second match with a 17-0 technical fall, and won his third match with a pin in 2 minutes 16 seconds.

Alexis Armas placed 4^th in the 12U 81.3-82 lb class. She lost her first match by getting pinned, lost her second match by getting pinned, and lost her third match to an 18-6 major decision.

The tournament in Mount Vernon marked the last tournament of the year but not the season for the Orcas Island Wrestling Club. The team is going to take a little time off for the holidays but will be back at it, working hard for upcoming tournaments in January and February. It is yet to be seen if the young wrestlers New Years resolutions will include stepping it up a notch in practice and tournament competition as they continue to hone and develop their skills.