MARYSVILLE — It seemed like everything broke right for the Arlington wrestling team in its Wesco 3A North victory over Everett last week, a win that gave the Eagles a chance at a league title Thursday at No. 14 Marysville Pilchuck.
All of coach Jonny Gilbertson’s lineup moves paid off, and the Eagles wrestled at or near their best on their home mat.
Neither of those things happened against the Tomahawks, whose deep, talented lineup swallowed Arlington in a 59-11 demolition that ensured the Wesco 3A North crown would stay in Marysville.
The Tomahawks (6-0 league) won 10 of the 12 contested bouts — the Eagles forfeited to MP at 106 and 220 — and ran away with the win.
“I think our two teams are closer than the score would indicate, but we got some momentum rolling our way tonight,” Marysville Pilchuck coach Craig Iversen said. “It was exciting to perform that way against a tough team like Arlington.”
The Eagles (4-2) got a technical fall from 132-pounder Will Rush, who’s ending his regular season on an upswing, and a pin by Levi Wiseman at 182 to start the proceedings. But it was all Marysville Pilchuck outside of those two bouts.
“They don’t have one weak spot in their lineup,” Gilbertson said. “They’re strong, physical and well-coached. We didn’t wrestle terribly, but it probably wasn’t our best night, and things got a little out of control on us. You need to be at your very best to have a chance against a team like that.”
Gilbertson again tried to work the lineup to his advantage, forfeiting to MP senior 106-pounder Cole Daurie — ranked second in the Jan. 24 Washington Wrestling Report 3A poll — and sending freshman Dorian Tollenaar out at 113 against Tomahawks’ junior Tanner Lauzon.
Tollenaar spotted Lauzon an early 6-3 lead, but worked back into the match, and neither wrestler led by more than two points through the remaining 2 1/2 periods and overtime.
Lauzon took Tollenaar down with a minute left in regulation and rode the freshman out to force the sudden-victory period. Lauzon, who is 4-0 in overtime matches this season, picked up a quick takedown off the whistle for the win.
“You’ve got to get your nerves out before the overtime starts, and just make sure you finish the shots you take,” Lauzon said of what is required to win in sudden-victory.
The win at 113 gave Marysville Pilchuck a 25-6 lead, and even after Rush won at 132, the Tomahawks had a 37-11 advantage, nearly out of reach for the Eagles. Marysville Pilchuck won the last five bouts to leave no doubt.
“There might have been years where we’ve had bigger weapons and more guys who made runs at state titles, but we’ve been really balanced,” Iversen said. “Our guys are finally down to weights they want to be at and we’re ready for the postseason.”
The Tomahawks and Eagles will next be in action at the Wesco 3A North district tournament at Stanwood on Feb. 2-3.
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