During a wrestling match, wrestlers have no one to back them up during the bout, no time-out to rest, no ability to substitute in a teammate and no halftime pep talk to re-inspire them. Thus, the wrestler must be a self-contained force with an arsenal of technique, conditioning and desire.

Vashon wrestlers demonstrated how these traits are critical to success during the home dual meet against Cascade Christian and a tournament at Emerald Ridge last week.

Wrestlers must perfect their technique.

Outstanding wrestling technique is the result of drilling on various movements. Elliot Ellingsen has put in the hard work to perfect his cradle and his moves from the top position, according to Head Coach Anders Blomgren.Ellingsen parlayed a reversal into a cradle for a pin at the end of the first period during the dual meet.

Madeleine Wolczko and Iris Spring each used their well-honed technique to win second place at the ultra-competitive Emerald Ridge girls’ tournament. This much-anticipated tourney featured 23 girls’ teams squaring off in 16-slot brackets. Wolczko quickly disposed of her preliminary opponents with two decisions and a bye. In the finals, Wolczko lost 4-1 to Sarah Kimble of Washington High. Spring marched through her brackets with two pins and a major decision.

Spring finished behind Kathryn Snyder of Emerald Ridge after a fall in the finals at 4:51.

Conditioning is critical to success.

Wrestlers’ physical and mental conditioning allows them to dominate their opponents and to battle the entire length of any match without becoming exhausted or intimidated.

Blomgren pointed to Dominik Stemer’s superior conditioning as the pivotal component for Stemer’s victory to take third at the tournament. Facing an accomplished opponent from 4A Emerald Ridge, Stemer broke the 0-0 third period tie with a hard-fought reversal for the win in the consolation bout at 135 pounds.

Sjors Steneker found himself in a grueling match and drew upon his mental and physical reserves to defeat his Cascade Christian opponent 10-4.

Desire motivates grapplers to win.

Wrestlers develop an internal drive not to allow adversity to prevent their

best performance. Accord-ing to Blomgren, a noteworthy example of this kind of heart was Sam Chapman’s effort in the 112-pound tournament finals against 4A Kelso’s highly ranked Riley Miller. Chapman fell behind but fought off his back. Chapman eventually lost 8-3 to earn second.

Through sheer determination, A.J. Sawyer pinned Cascade Christian’s Greg Seyler in the second period of the home JV match.

The four senior Pirate wrestlers epitomized these traits of technique, conditioning and desire against Cascade Christian.

Celebrating Senior Night, Graeme Britz, Tucker Lazare and Geran Webb all got pins, and Chapman received a technical fall. Additional honors befell Britz and Spring, who were named Washington Interscholastic Activities Association/Seattle Times 1A Athletes of the Week.

The final wrestling score for the dual meet was Vashon 38, Cascade Christian 27. At the Emerald Ridge Tournament, the Vashon varsity placed seventh; the Vashon girls took 14th.

On Thursday, Vashon wrestling will host Orting in a dual meet that will decide the Nisqually League wrestling title.

— Marian Easton is the mother of Pirate Robert Easton.

Home dual meet

Vashon will host Orting tomorrow in the Vashon gym with JV at 6 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. Several Orting wrestlers are ranked number one in their 1A weight classes, while the Orting team is ranked the best high school wrestling team in the state at any level.