Three of Vashon’s best wrestlers recently competed in a national-level tournament in Reno: eighth-graders Logan Nelson and Chase Wickman and sophomore Shane Armstrong.

The wrestlers competed in weight classes that consisted of as many as 100 wrestlers per class and entrants from all over the country, from California to Florida.

Nelson fought hard in his two matches and held his own against much older competition. Wickman lost close matches to the champion and the fourth-place winner, and won two decisive matches in spectacular fashion.

Armstrong won four matches and was two wins away from placing in the tournament. Two of his wins were particularly exciting. In both he was losing by a substantial amount heading into the third period before coming back to win, barely beating the buzzer.

— Per-Lars Blomgren