This Saturday the Vashon High School wrestlers will host the Nisqually League district championships at the high school gym.  Wrestling action will begin at 10 a.m. and wrap up in the early afternoon.

The top four placers will move on to the regional competition the following weekend.

Vashon has slipped to 13th in the overall state rankings compiled by Washington Wrestling Report. Eight individual wrestlers are currently ranked in the top 12 in the state for their weight classes in the 1A classification.

Junior Chase Wickman is the team’s top-ranked wrestler holding the second spot, with Logan Nelson right behind him at third. Luke Larson and Joe Coller are listed at ninth, and in the 10 spot are Hunter Burger, Bryce Hoisington and Chester Pruett. Rounding out the group is Clyde Pruett, who is ranked 11th after a very limited season in a couple of different weight classes.

Sophomore Bryce Hoisington will be back on the mat for the first time since suffering an injury in mid-December, and junior Franklin Easton has been cleared to remove the Darth Vader mask and wrestle unfettered for the first time in six weeks.

The coaches and wrestlers are eager to get back on the mat after a week off spent in preparation and are looking forward to moving as many grapplers as possible through to the state competition in the Tacoma Dome in late February.

— Cheryl Pruett is the mother of two Pirate wrestlers.