Wrestling 2016-02-20 - State Tournament

Everyone won.

All six Oak Harbor High School wrestlers who traveled to Tacoma this weekend for the state tourney captured at least one victory on the mat, with three 'Cats bringing home medals.

Junior Sam Zook was the star, claiming a third-place finish at 285 pounds, while 'Cat senior Dymond Piper (152) and junior Meredith Bain (190) both finished seventh.

Oak Harbor claimed 19th place in the boys' 3A team standings (out of 60 teams), while fellow Wesco North rival Arlington won the crown at Mat Classic XXVIII. Edmonds-Woodway was 4th.

The Wildcats were 65th in the girls tourney, which combines wrestlers from all classifications. 124 schools were represented.

Complete results:

Blake Servatius (106) -- Lost by fall (1:36) to Blake Haney of Mount Spokane; won by pin (4:15) over Tony Chen of Roosevelt; lost by pin  (1:58) to Beau Wiebe of Interlake

Zach Aketch (145) -- Lost by decision (8-6) to Alex Ramos of Kennewick; won by decision (4-1) over Erik Choi of Roosevelt; lost by decision (12-1) to Noah Saenz of Fendale

Dymond Piper (152) -- Won by pin (4:30) over Tristain Kwon of Lincoln; lost by decision (14-1) to Bryan Wais of North Central; won by fall (2:45) over Anthony Lindamond of Edmonds-Woodway; lost by fall (:53) to John Stuart of Kelso; won by injury default over Marcus Wiley of Lincoln

Caitlin Woodworth (155) -- Won by pin (3:06) over Jesse Lobos of Pasco; lost by fall (3:12) to Jenna Doll of Hoquiam; lost by decision (6-1) to Jordan Christin of Centralia

Meredith Bain (190) -- lost by fall (4:40) to Glaysia Sparling of Decatur; won by decision (3-0) over Daniel Jolley of Warden 3-0; won by decision (7-3) over Natasha Fruh of North Beach 7-3; lost by decision (2-0) to Jacey Linder of White River; won by decision (5-2) over Cassidy Ochoa of Sunnyside

Sam Zook (285) -- Won by decision (7-0) over Angus Beaton of Capital; lost by fall (2:52) to Markus Robinson of Rogers; won by decision (3-1) over Austin Brown of Marysville-Pilchuck; won by pin (2:02) over Bryan Person of Prairie; won by decision (1-0) over Julius McDade of O'Dea; won by pin (5:53) over Jackson Potts of Foss

Wrestling 2016-02-13 - Regional tournaments

Six is the magic number.

Or, with a little luck, it could be eight.

The Oak Harbor High School wrestling squad sent 10 grapplers to districts Saturday and emerged with two individual champions and four other state meet qualifiers.

Two other 'Cats earned alternate spots and would go if a wrestler ahead of them can't compete next weekend in Tacoma.

Oak Harbor edged Glacier Peak to nab fourth in the team standings at districts, with Arlington cruising to the title over a 15-school field.

Sam Zook (285) and Dymond Piper (152), who had been champions at sub-regionals, repeated at districts.

Piper ripped off a pair of pins, then won a 12-5 decision in the final, while Zook pinned his first foe in 25 seconds, then won a pair of hard-fought decisions.

Joining them at state will be Caitlin Woodworth (2nd at 155), Meredith Bain (3rd at 190), Blake Servatius (4th at 106) and Zach Aketch (4th at 145).

Garrett Stahl (113) and Blake McBride (126) both finished 5th and are alternates, while Michael Lym (6th at 132) and Nick Dugin (DNP at 170) were eliminated.

GBB 2016-02-10 - playoff tiebreaker vs Everett

Win. Move on. Win. Move on.

It's worked so far for the Oak Harbor High School girls' basketball team, which has kept its season alive with back-to-back victories over Everett.

After bouncing the Seagulls 39-38 in the regular season finale Tuesday, the Wildcats returned to their home court less than 24 hours later and drilled Everett again Wednesday, this time 43-33.

The victories lifted the 'Cats to 8-13, gave them the #4 seed out of the Wesco North, and sends them to Edmonds-Woodway Thursday.

Win there and they're off to the district tourney. Lose and the road finally runs out.

Fighting to stay alive but a bit tired Wednesday, both teams came out slowly on the offensive end.

With Bryn Langrock and Julie Jansen dropping in three-balls, Oak Harbor clung to a narrow 6-4 lead after one quarter of play.

Then the 'Cats made their move, riding a big second-quarter performance from Janae Payne, who dropped in seven of her game-high 11 right before halftime.

Spurred by her play Oak Harbor used a 16-7 run to stake itsself to an 11-point bulge at the half, then coasted home for the win.

The Wildcats used five treys to offset a slow night at the free throw line, where they netted just four of seven shots. Everett had more chances, but had little touch, going 7-17.

Langrock banked home 10 to back up Payne, while Jansen dropped nine, Deja Bunch hit for six, Rashanna Graham knocked down four and AnnaBelle Whitefoot tickled the twines for three.

Photos from the game are available HERE.



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BBB 2016-02-08 vs Everett

The final memory will be a sweet one.

Sparked by departing star Dyllan Harris, the Oak Harbor High School boys basketball squad rolled past visiting Everett 70-60 Monday to cap a rough season.

The victory, the second in their final four games, lifted the Wildcats to 3-17 overall, 2-8 in Wesco North play. They failed to make the playoffs.

In a season of close losses -- seven defeats were by just a handful of points, with three conference games slipping away in the final minute -- getting a bit of revenge against the Seagulls puts a positive spin on things.

The first time the squads met, Everett ran away with a win in overtime.

This time out, the 'Cats snatched the lead early in the first quarter and never relinquished it.

Down 6-2 in the very early going, Oak Harbor used a 13-2 surge to turn the tide of the game. Diangelo McKinney dropped the dagger, with a trey that sent the Wildcats into the first break up 15-10.

OHHS stretched the lead out to 13, before Everett took advantage of a huge disparity in fouls to cut away at the margin.

The Wildcats turned the tables in the fourth, draining 10 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.

Harris finished a spectacular four-year run with more than 1,000 points, going out with 24 points and eight rebounds in his last time in the purple and gold.

Sean Erskine added 17 and nine caroms.

Adam Nelson and McKinney both dropped in nine, Josh Cote banged away for seven and Ozell Jackson (2) and Preston Rankin (2) also scored for Oak Harbor.

Savion Hollins-Passmore ripped down eight boards as Oak Harbor dominated on the glass.

Third quarter kills JV:

A close game at the half turned into a romp after the break, as Everett ran away with a 47-33 win.

The Seagulls were up just 22-19 after two quarters, but used a 17-8 run in the third quarter to flatten the Wildcats.

Marcus Carr banked home 11 to lead Oak Harbor, while Haven Brown (6), Gavin Allen (5), Gabe Salinger (4), Joseph Arinaza (3), Justin Ellison (2) and Weston Whitefoot (2) also scored.

C-Team wins from the line:

If you love free throws, the freshman game was a classic, as Oak Harbor shot 43 times from the stripe -- including an astonishing 23 in just one quarter -- on its way to a 70-55 victory.

Everett actually came quite strongly, taking an 18-11 lead after one quarter.

After that it was all Oak Harbor, as the 'Cats used a 16-9 second to pull even, a 19-14 third to take the lead and a 24-14 fourth to put the game on ice.

With Everett fouling like crazy in the final two minutes in an effort to get back in the game, the Wildcats spent a considerable amount of time at the charity stripe.

They converted 15-23 in the fourth, knocking down 27-43 on the night. The Seagulls were a much more modest 4-9.

Dorian Hardin sparked OHHS with 16, while Terrell Crumpton slid in 13, Kevin Schuldt popped for 11 and Austin Boesch tickled the twines for 10.

Ben Knoll (8), Andrew Baloy (5) Nathanael Thompson (3), Evan Nadeau (2) and Ashton Prats (2) also got in the scoring column.


Freshman game pics are HERE


JV pics are HERE


Click HERE for varsity action photos.



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Wrestling 2016-02-05-6 - Sub-Regional tournament at Stanwood

Eleven Wildcats still alive. Or maybe 10.

That's where it stands for the Oak Harbor High School wrestling squad after the first round of the postseason.

Eight 'Cat boys and two girls made it through sub-regionals Saturday, claiming a top four finish and punching their ticket to next weekend's regional tourney.

One additional OHHS male grappler finished fifth, making him an alternate.

Despite sending just two girls, Oak Harbor finished 12th out of 29 teams thanks to both Caitlin Woodworth and Meredith Bain claiming second-place finishes in their weight classes.

Mount Baker, which had six finalists, won the girls team title.

The Wildcats boys were fifth out of seven teams in their competition, led by weight-class championships from Sam Zook (285) and Dymond Piper (152).

As a team, Oak Harbor won 38 matches and lost 41, while Wesco North rival Arlington romped to the team title, going 72-32.

Both of the 'Cat champs ripped through their brackets with a flawless 4-0 record.

Zook, who along with Bain is ranked in the top 10 in the state in his class, won three matches by pin after getting an opening-round bye.

Regionals will be held Saturday, Feb. 13 at Squalicum (girls) and Marysville-Pilchuck (boys). The top four in each weight class there will advance to state.

The 'Cats who are advancing, with their sub-regional placings:

106 -- Blake Servatius (2nd)
113 -- Garrett Stahl (4th)
113 -- Zion Gomez (5th) **Alternate**
126 -- Blake McBride (3rd)
132 -- Michael Lym (2nd)
145 -- Zachuriah Aketch (4th)
152 -- Dymond Piper (1st)
155 -- Caitlin Woodworth (2nd)
170 -- Nick Dugin (4th)
190 -- Meredith Bain (2nd)
285 -- Sam Zook (1st)

Click HERE for complete boys brackets

Girls brackets are HERE.

Click HERE for photos from the 1st day of action (OH wrestlers only)

HERE are 2nd day action photos covering all schools and matches.


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BBB 2016-02-01 vs Getchell

The candle is still flickering, but almost blown out.

Coming off a double-digit loss to visiting Marysville-Getchell on Senior Night Monday, the Oak Harbor High School boys' basketball team will need a miracle to make the postseason.

Now 2-16 overall, 1-7 in Wesco play after falling 63-51 to the Chargers, the 'Cats would need to win their final two games, have Arlington lose all three games left on its schedule and see Getchell lose to Stanwood to have even a small shot at a playoff berth.

All that breaks just right and Oak Harbor would end in a three-way tie for fourth-place in the North division of Wesco and face off with Arlington and Getchell in a tie-breaker.

Win that and the Wildcats would play the South division's #4 squad for the league's final postseason seed.

If Oak Harbor wants to get anywhere close to that, it will need to cut down on the turnovers, which stung them badly against MG.

Clinging to a 30-28 lead with a little over four minutes left in the third, the Wildcats wilted against Getchell’s half-court trap.

Taking advantage of a string of turnovers, the Chargers went on a 13-0 rampage, with five straight buckets coming off of Oak Harbor errors.

Trailing by as many as 16 in the fourth quarter, the 'Cats made several mini-runs, but were unable to get the margin back under 10.

'Cat senior Dyllan Harris made a strong showing, raining down 25 when he wasn't stuck on the bench with foul trouble. Marysville's Cody Day responded by pumping home a game-high 32.

Sean Erskine backed Harris with nine, while Adam Nelson (7), Diangelo McKinney (6), Josh Cote (2) and Ozell Jackson (2) also scored.

It was the final home game for OHHS seniors Harris, Erskine, McKinney, Bryce Diras, Darnell Dizon, Savion Hollins-Passmore and Preston Rankin.

JV romps:

Riding a game-high 21 from Gabe Salinger, the Wildcats stormed to a 54-42 win.

Oak Harbor jumped out to a 12-9 lead after one, then never looked back, steadily building the lead from there.

Weston Whitefoot banked home 10 in support of Salinger, while Joseph Arinaza swished eight and Haven Brown popped for six. Gavin Allen (4), Justin Ellison (3) and Marcus Carr (2) rounded out the 'Cat attack.

C-Team nipped:
Oak Harbor's freshmen came up just short, falling 63-59 in a game that was decided during a frantic fourth quarter.

The game was tied at 40 after three, but Getchell got hot from long-range and peppered the 'Cats for 23 in the final eight minutes to claim the victory.

Dorian Hardin dropped in 13 to pace OH, while Andrew Baloy tickled the twines for 10.

Terrell Crumpton (9), Austin Boesch (8), Ben Knoll (8), Kevin Schuldt (7), Ashton Prats (3) and Evan Nadeau (1) also scratched their names into the score-book.

Varsity photos are posted HERE


JV photos are HERE

Click HERE for freshman game pics.

Wrestling 2016-01-26 vs Anacortes

Oak Harbor went from no opponent to half an opponent.

After Stanwood suddenly cancelled on the Wildcats, thanks to a wild mix of bad grades, injuries and athletic code violations, Anacortes stepped in to make sure OHHS would be able to still hold Senior Night Tuesday.

The Seahawks only filled seven of the 14 weight classes, and with five wins in the seven contested bouts, Oak Harbor sailed to a 62-12 win.

The victory lifted the 'Cats to 6-4 on the season, with a final Wesco match at Marysville-Getchell Thursday.

Of those who did wrestle, Sam Zook was the star on the night, winning 4-2 in overtime against Kiron Devine at 285 pounds.

Zook, who is undefeated this season, is ranked fourth in the state among 3A wrestlers, while Devine is ninth in class 2A.

Complete results:

(106) Justin Go lost by pin (0:43)
(113) William Nickelson won by decision 13-12
(120) Garrett Stahl won by pin (2:39)
(126) Blake McBride won by pin (2:47)
(132) Michael Lym won by decision 20-6
(138) Lucas Nickelson won by forfeit
(145) Corey Boler lost by pin (3:57)
(152) Joseph Field won by forfeit
(160) Eriq Boler won by forfeit
(170) Nick Dugan won by forfeit
(182) Joshua Margraf won by forfeit
(195) Colton Burdick-Curtis won by forfeit
(220) Isaiah Edmon won by forfeit
(285) Sam Zook won by decision 4-2

Before the match, the Wildcats honored seniors Stahl, Dymond Piper, Field, Martin Power, Amber Cramsey-Behnke and manager Mily Larsen.

Oak Harbor also received the Gary Knutzen Spirit of Wrestling Award for the second time in the last four years.

The award, given by the Skagit-Island Wrestling Officials Association, honors the Wildcats and coach Larry Falcon for an "outstanding display of sportsmanship throughout the season."

Knutzen was a longtime wresting official and head coach at Skagit Valley College.

This weekend marks the beginning of wrestling's post-season, with the boys sub-regional tournament on Friday and Saturday at Stanwood High School and the girls at Bellingham High School.