MARYSVILLE — In its first Western Conference North Division home wrestling match of the season, the Marysville-Pilchuck Tomahawks needed to make a statement against a strong opponent.
After dropping five of the first six matches, the Tomahawks won eight straight for a 41-19 league win over Everett Tuesday night at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Starting at the 171-pound weight class, Everett (0-1 league, 3-1 overall) grabbed a 19-3 lead through the first six matches.
Alec Bird, a senior 215-pounder and the reigning class 3A champion, scored a pin on Marysville-Pilchuck senior Kyle Bossom in 3 minutes, 42 seconds to give Everett, ranked seventh in 3A by the washingtonwrestlingreport.com, a 13-0 lead early in the contest.
As soon as the heavier weight classes finished, Marysville-Pilchuck (1-1, 4-1) went on a roll, starting with junior Ruben Escalante at 119 pounds.
Escalante racked up near-fall points for an impressive 16-1 technical fall victory over Everett junior Zane Crook.
“It was hard work and knowing that coach told us to go hard after the heavier weights,” Escalante said of his rally-starting victory. “… Our middle class is one of the keys, that’s what got us to win our match tonight.”
Following Escalante’s jump start, M-P sophomore Christian Mendoza scored a pin in 56 seconds at 125 pounds and at 130 pounds M-P’s Brandon Blevins, a junior, battled for a 7-3 decision over Everett’s Jack Forrest.
Blevins’ victory, one that M-P head coach Craig Iversen highlighted as a big turning point in the match, put the Tomahawks within easy striking distance — down 19-17 with five matches remaining.
“We knew coming in that the strength of their lineup was going to be that first part,” Iversen said. “We were pleased at some of our losses, we kept the matches close, they had some pretty good guys that didn’t pin us which was a great benefit to us.
“That’s what allowed us to get going, our strength is in our middle weights.”
Senior Luke Shumaker, wrestling for the first time at 135 pounds down from the 140-pound class, gave the Tomahawks their first lead with a pin on Everett’s Josh Anderson in 3 minutes, 15 seconds.
“He’s been a leader for us, so we’re excited about him,” Iversen said of Shumaker, adding that he wasn’t sure how the wrestler’s body would handle the weight loss.
The Seagulls were still within striking distance before a quick pin by M-P’s Brian Donaldson, a 145-pound senior, put the match out of reach.
Donaldson grabbed two early take-down points on Everett’s Tyler Dutton before pinning him in 1:19 to give M-P a 13-point advantage with just two matches remaining.
The Tomahawks won the final two matches to complete a run of 38 unanswered points for the Wesco North win.
“In Wesco North, any win is a huge win,” Iversen said. “They’re pretty tough to get and we’re always pleased to have one, especially at home.”
The win also helped the Tomahawks rebound from a tough 60-9 road loss Dec. 8 to top-ranked North foe Lake Stevens.
“It was good, it was a nice win, it felt good,” Escalante said.
At Marsyville-Pilchuck High School
171—Jerry Contreras (E) maj. dec. Cole Cushing 20-6; 189—Danny Lopez (E) dec. Jake Carlton 7-0; 215—Alec Bird (E) pinned Kyle Bossom 3:42; 285—Levi Carroll (E) dec. Zach Schumann 8-3; 103—Billy Almachar (M-P) dec. Justine Palabrica 5-3; 112—Jessie Lopez (E) dec. Luis Cardona 5-2; 119—Ruben Escalante (M-P) tech. fall Zane Crook 16-1; 125—Christian Mendoza (M-P) pinned Michael Smith :56; 130—Brandon Blevins (M-P) dec. Jack Forrest 7-3; 135—Luke Shumaker (M-P) pinned Josh Anderson 3:15; 140—Demitri Robinson (M-P) dec. Joel Palabrica 8-5; 145—Brian Donaldson (M-P) pinned Tyler Dutton 1:19; 151—Marcus Haughian (M-P) pinned Richie Heard 4:40; 160—Chris Herbert (M-P) dec. Zach Skorka 7-5. Records—Everett 0-1 league, 3-1 overall. Marysville-Pilchuck 1-1, 4-1.
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