Victories on the wrestling mat begin with long hours practicing moves against wrestling partners. When these practice partners meet in competition, they often don’t take the matches as seriously as they would against stranger, according to assistant wrestling coach Per-Lars Blomgren.

That was not the case on Saturday at the prestigious Auburn Invitational Tournament, when wrestling partners Alex Sohl and Robert Easton met in the 189-pound finals. Blomgren was pleased that neither wrestler let down his intensity. “They both did a good job staying serious and focused,” Blomgren said.

Sohl beat Easton 7-3 to become the champion of the class.

During earlier rounds, Sohl had racked up pins at 1:08 and 3:55.

“I am pleased how Alex has retained his wrestling knowledge and feel,” said Blomgren.  

Easton scored a 2:56 fall and a 2-0 decision before he took second in his first-ever finals.

Maximo Mandl and teammate Sjors Steneker also battled each other in a match. Mandl scored a 12-3 major decision against Steneker and combined this with an earlier pin (2:03) to win fourth at 152 pounds.

Each year, Vashon’s wrestling coaches seek out the toughest competition for the team to face during the preseason. This tournament was brimming with standout 4A wrestlers, but Vashon held its own.

Blomgren said he was pleased that Vashon placed seventh out of nine highly competitive teams. “Our team wrestled well and exceeded the coaches’ expectations,” he said.

Dominik Stemer faced the weight class with the deepest collection of talent at the tourney, according to Blomgren. Stemer earned third at 145 pounds with his only loss (9-4) coming at the hands of a state placer from South Kitsap High School.

In JV action, Jacob Ludberg won the 285-pound weight class after pinning his Kentlake opponent at 3:31 in the finals.

“Jacob has added several moves to his arsenal and has matured into a real wrestler,” said Blomgren.

Many of the other JV wrestlers joined with pins of their own. Shane Armstrong, 189 pounds, had a fall at 1:25 on his way to earning second place. In his second-ever wrestling match, 160-pound Peter Johnson pinned his Kentlake opponent after just 52 seconds, claiming fourth. Preston Morris, 171 pounds, used a 2:23 pin also to win fourth place.

Girls’ wrestling coach Dave Chapman praised the girls team’s performance at the Emerald Ridge Girls’ Tournament, also on Saturday.

Iris Spring, 125 pounds, made a strong statement about her intentions for the season when won her class. She easily handled her adversaries, racking up two pins and a 12-3 major decision in a tough weight class.

In a rematch from the state tourney last season, Madeleine Wolczko again lost by one point to her Lakeside nemesis. Wolczko pinned her other two foes to finish third at 119 pounds.

Each novice girl wrestler scored points in a match at the tourney. Julia Zaglin did even better by winning her third match by a pin to finish in seventh place.

This weekend, Vashon boys and girls teams will take on state title contender Omak High School when they travel to the triple dual meet at Port Townsend. 

— Marian Easton is a mother of two Pirate wrestlers.