Last weekend’s sub-regional wrestling meet saw six teams battle it out on the Pirates’ home turf for the chance to move on to Regionals.

Klahowya, Vashon, Port Townsend, Cascade Christian, Bellevue Christian and Chimacum high school grapplers took to the mat, with the VHS team taking second place overall behind Klahowya, well ahead of third-place Port Townsend.

The young but determined team qualified 16 athletes, plus five alternates, for this coming weekend’s regional competition at Klahowya in what coach Anders Blomgren described as “a true team effort — we got a large number of bonus points (through pins and major decisions) to boost our overall point total.” Blomgren also noted that he believes that this is the most athletes the Vashon team has ever sent to Regionals.

First through fourth places made it through to Regionals, fifth are alternates: The Pirates’ first places at sub-regionals came from Moses Kilpatrick, Nico Nuxoll and Luke Larson. Seconds from Jake Carman, Lewis Kanagy, Jordon Rutschow, Isaac Escovedo, Richard Rivas and Dakota Crandall. Third place finishers included Ethan McIntyre, Payton Bonaventura and Bladdie Arteaga. Final qualifiers for Regionals, in fourth place were Alyx Arteaga, Jake Bowden, Ray Rivas and Donavan Steffensen. Alternate spots went to Jake Larson, Ryan Nelson, Yury Coucoules, Finn McClure and Amadeo Gallina for their fifth place finishes.

A final high point for the Pirates in wrestling was the naming of Luke Larson as the Washington Intercollegiate Athletic Association’s Athlete of the Week.

Up next: Regionals meet and the last chance to qualify for State.

— This story was written with information provided by VHS wrestling coach Anders Blomgren