The holidays are over and the wrestlers are back

January 24, 2024 1:30 am
Contributed photo Orcas Wrestling Club at the Stanwood Novice Tournament on Jan. 14. Front row, left to right: Louie Averna, Aria Griffin, Elliot Wooding. Second row: Otis Sebring, Weston Wooding, Mckinnnley Meester, David Nunez. Third row: Giovanni Averna, Mario Nunez, Ty Nunez. Back row: Coaches Jason Dean, Laurie Glass, Rob Kirby and Rob Harvey.
Contributed photo Orcas Wrestling Club at the Stanwood Novice Tournament on Jan. 14. Front row, left to right: Louie Averna, Aria Griffin, Elliot Wooding. Second row: Otis Sebring, Weston Wooding, Mckinnnley Meester, David Nunez. Third row: Giovanni Averna, Mario Nunez, Ty Nunez. Back row: Coaches Jason Dean, Laurie Glass, Rob Kirby and Rob Harvey.

by coaches Jason Dean and Rob Harvey

Orcas wrestlers traveled to Arlington High School for the WWKWL Stanwood Novice tournament on January 14th and started back up from where they left off. 24 teams participated and the following results will show how the Orcas Island Wrestling Club (OIWC) earned the 3rd highest win percentage of the tournament. In their respective brackets, five wrestlers placed 1st, four placed 2nd, and one placed 3rd. The OIWC won a combined total 21 of 28 matches.

Elliot Wooding took first place in the 6U, 41-42 lb class. He pinned his first opponent in the first round with the second fastest pin of the day, won his second and third matches by major decisions with scores of 15-1 and 17-5.

Anthony (Louie) Averna won first place in the 8U, 61-62 lb class. He won his first two matches by decisions of 12-9 and 17-5. He pinned his third opponent for the fall in his third match.

David Nunez took second place in the 8U 64-65lb class. He won his first match with a 13-6 decision but lost his second match 8-1.

Otis Seabring placed third in the 8U 65-66 lb class. He lost his first match 12-4 and lost his second match 12-5.

Aria Griffin earned a first-place medal in the 10U, 62-63 lb class. She pinned her first opponent, beat her second opponent with a 10-5 decision, and pinned her third opponent.

Mckinley Meester took second place in the 10U 71-74 lb bracket by pinning his first opponent, winning his second match with a 5-4 decision, but then losing his third 12-8.

Weston Wooding took first place in the 10U, 76-77 class. He pinned his first opponent, won his second match with a 10-3 decision, and pinned his third opponent.

Giovanni Averna placed second in the 12U, 59-63 lb class. He pinned his first two opponents, but lost his third match by a 10-3 decision.

Ty Nunez placed second in the 12U 103-104 lb class, pinning his first two opponents and losing his third match by getting pinned himself.

Mario Nunez entered in the 12U 137-147 lb class with only one other opponent in the same bracket so it became the best out of three for placing. He pinned his opponent the first match but got pinned himself in the second match. The third match ended up tied 9-9 at the end of the third round and Mario won in the sudden death overtime with a two point take down resulting in the 11-9 victory.

It was great to see the wrestlers back on the mat after the holidays and the entrance into the new year. During the break between tournaments the club was busy fundraising with the ongoing Super-Duper Raffle (the drawings will be held in February at the end of the season) and hosted a lasagna dinner and silent auction at the Deer Harbor Community Club. The OIWC thanks all the generous supporters and donators that make it possible for the club to exist and thrive the way it is. The club is planning to attend tournaments every remaining weekend in January and the Novice Championships in February. If you see one of the young wrestlers running around wish them luck.