The Wolverines will have a few more wins — and a few more as pins — when they hit the mat this weekend in post-season competition.
Seniors Shawn Cutting (160 pounds) and Maverick Blake (152) notched wins at home Wednesday against La Conner, and then Saturday against Nooksack Valley, in boosting what are already some impressive individual regular-season marks.
Cutting, 24-5 in regular-season matches, pinned his opponent in the first round to add a quick six to the team’s 30-21 win over La Conner. Blake, at 24-3, made even quicker work of his opponent, tallying six more with a pin in the opening moments of first round.
“Everything is just starting to flow and come together this year,” Cutting said.
Those two veterans will join senior Willy Dunn (285) in leading an otherwise inexperienced Friday Harbor squad in its quest to advance beyond the sub-regionals, which, for the boys, begin Saturday at Squalicum High School.
For the girls, including Friday Harbor senior Kia Johns (135) the post-season gets underway Friday.
The Wolverines roster, though thinner than it was at the start of the season, includes not only seasoned veterans, like Blake, Cutting and Dunn, but several talented underclassmen as well.
Head Coach Neil MacDiarmid expects sophomore Marquis Napier and freshman Sam Ibold have the skills and stamina do more than just hold their own at sub-regional match.
“Last year was one of our best years,” MacDiarmid said. “We took a lot of kids to regionals a year ago. I hoping to take at least five or six kids there again this year.”
Regionals begin Feb. 12 at Bellevue Christian.
