Ten teams from around the State converged on Vashon in an effort to wrestle for the right to take gold nuggets home with them after competing at the annual Rock Tournament last weekend.

Of course, Vashon’s hospitality did not extend towards “giving away” any of the 13 nuggets, one for each weight class.

And the Pirates proceeded to hang on to a couple of them: Rogen Lopez at 135 pounds by pinning all of his opponents, taking 35 seconds to do so in the semi-finals and one more second (36) for the coup-de-grace in the finals.

The second gold nugget was won by Adam Thalhofer in the 152- pound weight class. No one has evidently told Adam that first year wrestlers (his past, however, includes much judo experience) are not supposed to accomplish such feats. So much for probable expectations.

Two other Vashon wrestlers sniffed the gold (in matches the coaches believe could be replayed in the state finals) without hanging on to it: Sam Chapman at 103 pounds and Alex Stemer at 145 pounds both lost to tough Orting Cardinals.

Other placers: 189-pound Geran Webb took third; 112-pound Eddie Protzeller took 4 fourth; 119-pound Graeme Britz, 135-pound Quinn Patrick and 275-pound Tim Jovanovich all took sixth place.

Kyle York, Kyle Martin, Noah Crozier, Madeleine Wolczko and Sylvie Shiosake also participated.

Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls placed first, followed by Orting, Blaine and Vashon.

Quincy High School was awarded the first “Rock Tournament Team Sportsmanship” award in memory of Dr. Gary Dingerson, long-time Vashon wrestling fan who passed away this summer.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 3, Vashon will tangle with the Foster Bulldogs at home.

— Carl Blomgren, the coaches’ father, writes about wrestling.