Twenty-two Pirate wrestlers entered the Nisqually League sub-regional tournament hosted by Vashon on Saturday. By the end of the day, an impressive 17 were in the hunt for medals and a berth to the regional tournament this weekend in Castle Rock. Last year the team sent 13 to regionals.

The Pirates as a team also beat out four other schools to take first place at the tournament.

Eight Vashon wrestlers were in the finals, nine wrestled for third or fourth place and two for fifth or sixth.

The heartbreaking part of the final round is that at this tournament, only the top three grapplers are guaranteed a spot in the regional tournament — fourth place finishers are alternates.

Vashon had five champions that day, three Pirates placed second, four placed third and two placed fifth. With such a dominant performance, the team as a whole won the tournament, beating squads from Eatonville, Cascade Christian, Bellevue Christian and Port Townsend.

“I’m super proud of all of our guys. It was a complete team effort,” said coach Anders Blomgren after the tournament.

Finishing atop the podium were Chase Wickman, Christian Seymour, Shane Armstrong, Preston Morris and A.J. Sawyer. Second place awards went to Shane Williams, Clyde Pruett and Louie Jovanovich.  The third place winners, guaranteed action at regionals, were Chester Pruett, Elan Peterson, Logan Nelson and Joe Coller.

Finishing fourth and going to regionals as alternates were Jon Michael Monroe, Sam Frederickson, Fletcher Call, Winter Krimmert and Franklin Easton. Rounding out their seasons with fifth place finishes were Trevor Figgins and Preston Petersen.

Grappling action will continue Saturday at Castle Rock, as Vashon joins the regional tournament where the top four from each eight-man bracket will continue on to the state tournament at the Tacoma Dome.

— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two Pirate wrestlers.