Last Thursday, Vashon wrestlers beat perenially tough Klahowya 47-30 for a share of the 2018-19 League Dual Meet title.

This was a big win for the young team.

“We hope to keep this momentum rolling through the postseason and the future,” Coach Anders Blomgren said.

And while seven of the Pirates’ 12 wrestlers in the lineup were freshmen and sophomores, Blomgren said it was the seniors who starred in the dual.

Nico Nuxoll started Vashon’s road to the win off with a dynamic pin, and Ryan Nelson followed with a finely executed technical fall.

Jordon Rutschow got a pin in the last seconds of his match for valuable team points, while pins — and points — were also achieved by Finn “Pin” McClure and James Ryland. A forfeit to Richard Rivas added to the team’s win column along with a win from Ethan “Big Mac” McIntyre, but it was Jake Carman with a pin against an opponent he has never bested before, that clinched the match — and the championship — for Vashon.

Other notable feats came from Lewis Kanagy, who won by decision in a hard fought match and Payton Bonaventura, who battled against Klahowya’s best wrestler before ultimately losing.

Blomgren added that “valiant and selfless” efforts were made in losses by Liam Laak and Yury Coucoules, who both moved up weight classes to help the team.

And for the JV squad, pins were made by Sean Ryland, George Murphy, and Alec Macomber-Straight.

The team begins its post-season run with the league tournament at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, at Klahowya. The top four from the league tournament qualify for Regionals, and the top four from Regionals will qualify for state.

State competition takes place in the Tacoma Dome, Feb. 15 and 16.