Two of its biggest events were held within three days.
Now, South Kitsap’s wrestling team finally gets a little time off before it heads to the Feb. 5-6 sub-regional tournament at Foss High School.
Just not too much.
“We’re going to start cranking up the intensity,” South coach Chad Nass said. “We have a lot to cover.”
The Wolves finished the regular season Monday with a 44-18 win against Central Kitsap to extend their league winning streak to 170 matches. South’s last league loss occurred in December 1992 against North Thurston.
“I don’t know if any of us coaches have really grasped that yet,” said Nass, referring to the meaning of the streak. “I think that one day when we’re all done and retired, we’ll reflect on what it means.”
Nass, who replaced retired coach Ron Hudiburg in 2004, said it all begins with the wrestlers. He said that especially was the case against Central, when the first match of the night was 189 pounds. Nass said he and his assistants thought that was the worst draw possible for their team because the Cougars’ strength is their heaviest and lightest weight classes.
“Our kids knew in advance that those would be the tough matches,” he said.
Instead, senior Guy Powell gave the Wolves a quick lead with a 13-3 win against Shaq Blair.
“I really felt Guy Powell set the tone for the night,” Nass said. “Guy did a really good job controlling the match.”
Sophomore Eddie Meisner then pinned Joel Eklof in 5 minutes, 27 seconds to give a lead it never would relinquish. Nass noted that Meisner won his previous match against Eklof by just one point.
Despite the lopsided outcome, Nass said the rivalry match was good preparation for the postseason. He said Central coach Mike Harter has “elevated” the Cougars’ program and it has become perhaps the most difficult match for the Wolves in the Narrows League. Last year, South won 39-26 in Silverdale.
Nass also was happy with the results from Saturday’s South Kitsap Invitational. The Wolves, who were one of eight schools participating, won the team title for a third consecutive with 237 points.
Four South competitiors — juniors Cody Barich (135), Kris Fenton (140) and Terrill Wilson (119) and senior Tom Decker (285) — placed first in the tournament.
“I thought our kids wrestled really tough,” Nass said. “We’re moving in the right direction.”
Monday
At South Kitsap 44, Central Kitsap 18
103: Colin Bryant (SK) won by forfeit. 112: Joey Troyer (CK) d. Joel Miner 12-6. 119: Terrill Wilson (SK) tf. Adam Benitez 22-6. 125: Evan Beck (CK) d. Chris Gonzales 10-6. 130: Ian Sprecher (CK) p. Cody Magdaleno 1:47. 135: Cody Barich (SK) p. Alan Lightfoot 2:50. 140: Kris Fenton (SK) d. Jacob Beck 7-3. 145: Taylor Lyman (SK) d. Karl Koemmpel 6-1. 152: Hakeem Smith (SK) d. Tyler Kahl 14-5. 160: Craig Dyess (SK) d. Jacob Henden 15-3. 171: Chris Nenninger (SK) d. Ryan Sayers 7-3. 189: Guy Powell (SK) d. Shaq Blair 13-3. 215: Eddie Meisner (SK) p. Joel Eklof 5:27. 285: Morgan Yarber (CK) p. Tom Decker 4:50.
Saturday
South Kitsap Invitational
Team scores: South Kitsap 237, North Mason 142, Kentlake 134.5, Peninsula 131, Allstars 124, Gig Harbor 116, Evergreen (Vancouver) 111.5, Olympic 104, Olympia 85.5
Championship round
103: Michael Nguyen (E) d. Peyton Zeller-Av (AS). 112: Jerrett Canovas (Eve) d. Zac Joaquin (NM) 8-7. 119: Terrill Wilson (SK) d. Pedro Joaquin (NM) 12-5. 125: Tyler Pott (K) d. Wes Wynn (P) 9-8. 130: Jesse Borcherding (Oly) p. Stephen Lacheney (P) 1:37. 135: Cody Barich (SK) d. Tyler Allen (P) 8-3. 140: Kris Fenton (SK) d. Josh Knippel (E) 8-6. 145: Branden Yeik (Oly) p. Sean Cavanaugh (KL) 2:37. 152: Davey Browne (GH) p. Hakeem Smith (SK) 5:48. 160: Chase Oswalt (P) d. Chris Nenninger (AS) 7-4. 171: Jordan Pine (Olya) d. Conner Hartmann (SK) 10-4. 189: Ryan Kuhn (NM) d. Justin Henry (Olya) 215: Robert Vandling (NM) d. Josh Baker (GH) 8-3. 285: Tom Decker (SK) d. Jessy Leifi (GH) 9-7.
