Everett rallies to beat Bruins
Published 10:24 pm Thursday, December 13, 2007
EVERETT — Down 13-6 early in their Wesco North wrestling match, the Everett Seagulls bounced back in a huge way.
The Seagulls had seven straight pins and never lost another match en route to an impressive 65-13 Wesco North victory over the Cascade Bruins at Everett High School Thursday evening.
Eight of the Seagulls 11 wins were by pin as Everett (3-0 in league, 4-3 overall) remained unbeaten in league play.
Sophomore Danny Lopez led the Seagulls with an impressive pin at the 285-pound class dropping his opponent Bryan Katz in 55 seconds.
Katz outweighed Lopez by 87 pounds.
“We figured they’d go over the top, our plan was to duck under, take it to the mat and finish it,” Everett head coach Brien Elliott said, which is exactly what Lopez did.
Lopez, Jack Forrest (119) and Anthony Lucero (125) all bumped up a weight class for Everett.
Forrest pinned Cascade’s James Oonlamom late in the third period and Lucero earned an 18-2 win over Thuan Ho.
“They took really good defensive position and were aggressive at times,” Cascade head coach Todd Freeman said.
Cascade (0-3, 1-5) opened up the meet at 130 with Andy Duncan pinning Everett’s Dylan Stratis in 1 minute, 24 seconds.
Andy’s brother, Lex Duncan — a freshman — gave Cascade an early 10-0 lead with a 14-6 decision over Seagulls freshman Joel Palabrica.
“The Duncan boys are really good wrestlers … I was concerned about their middleweights getting a run on us early. I didn’t know we’d win until we got to 152 and then we’re behind,” Elliott said.
After Everett’s Alex Jess earned a pin at 140, cutting the Bruins lead to 10-6, Cascade’s Cameron Seal earned a 4-3 decision at 145, giving Cascade the 13-6 lead.
“When they are young like they are you never know what’s going to show up on the mat,” Elliott said of a Bruins team that has just five seniors on its squad.
The victory was especially nice for the Seagulls as it came on Teacher Appreciation Night.
Everett teachers John Bittinger and Casee Chaffee were co-winners of the Bryce Cook Teacher of the Year award chosen by the Everett wrestling team as teachers that have touched their lives in some way.
At Everett H.S.
130—A. Duncan (C) pinned Stratis, 1:24; 135—L. Duncan (C) major dec. Palabrica, 14-6; 140—Jess (E) pinned Anderson, 3:55; 145—Seal (C) dec. Pound, 4-3; 152—Irwin (E) pinned Hjort, 0:55; 160—Crook (E) pinned Stoller, 1:29, 171—Contrares won by forfeit; 189—Boyce (E) pinned Cole, 4:37; 215—Carson (E) pinned Aus, 1:32; 285—Lopez (E) pinned Katz, 0:55; 103—Smith (E) won by forfeit; 112—Bearer (E) pinned McClure, 2:51; 119—Forrest (E) pinned Oonlamom, 4:53; 125—Lucero (E) major dec. Ho, 18-2. Records—Cascade 0-3 league, 1-5 overall. Everett 3-0, 4-3.
