By CARL BLOMGREN

In dual meet competitions last week, the Vashon High School wrestling team went 1 and 1, first losing to the top ranked 1-A team in the state, the Orting Cardinals, 34-41; then winning the next evening by pounding the Fife Trojans, 55-16.

Double winners from both matches, all the wins by pins, were: Sam Chapman, Eddie Protzeller, Quinn Patrick, Alex Stemer and Geran Webb.

Rogen Lopez lost by one point in a replay of last year’s state finals against an Orting Cardinal.

Adam Thalhofer, Ben Salazar and Kyle Martin, after losing matches against Orting, vindicated themselves by beating their Fife opponents.

Tim Jovanovich (275 pound weight class) is learning to throw his weight around, illustrated by pinning his Orting adversary in the second period but losing to a behemoth from Fife.

Are there lessons to be learned from these past adventures?

1) For Vashon opponents, do not schedule a match the day after Vashon has just lost a bitter hard-fought match.

2) Change the warm-up music: The music prior to the Orting match was suited more for sleeping than turning into Wild Ones. Suggestion: new music coordinator.

3) Unless someone offers $10K for the removal/retirement of present Vashon coaches, they are here to stay, so we must learn to live with them.

Next — and last of the season — home match is against Eatonville on Wednesday, Jan. 23.

Mark your calendars. See ya’ there.

Breaking news from Everett, Wash., at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12:

Vashon took first place in the 15-team Everett Classic Tournament. Rogen Lopez, Alex Stemer (also voted Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament) and Adam Thalhofer took first place.

Other placers include Sam Chapman (second), Eddie Protzeller and Timmy Jovanovich (third), Geran Webb and Quinn Patrick (fifth).

At the Everett JV Tournament, Kyle Martin and Jessie Mish took first place, Madeleine Wolczko placed second and Dom Stemer placed third.

— Carl Blomgren is a great lover of wrestling, and he is the father of two coaches.