The Pirate wrestlers hosted an exciting non-league dual meet against Decatur High School of Federal Way on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Since Vashon has no lightweight wrestlers this season, they had to forfeit matches in the five lowest weight classes. If not for that, the team points were tied going into the final match of the evening.

Varsity wrestlers Cole Devereau and Kevin Thomas started things off with big wins for the Pirates.

Elliot Ellingsen, Preston Morris and Jacob Ludberg all lost in tough matches, but the Pirates rebounded with big wins from Shane Armstrong and A.J. Sawyer.

Junior varsity matches were action-packed with several grapplers going the distance. The bright spot was Louis Jovanovich’s win by pin in just 18 seconds.

Also last week, senior wrestler Julie Wilson was named Seattle Times WIAA 1A Athlete of the Week.

Over the weekend the Pirates took seven wrestlers to the Tri-State Tournament in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, where 56 teams from the Pacific Northwest competed.

Morris fared the best for Vashon, finishing just shy of the medal round. Also competing for Vashon were Armstrong, Devereau, Thomas, Ellingsen, Sawyer and Jacob Ludberg,

Next Wednesday is the annual Rock Tournament on Vashon. Fourteen teams from all around the state will compete in the all-day event at Vashon High School beginning at 9 a.m.

— Cheryl Pruett is a volunteer writer and the mother of a middle school wrestler.