Submitted by the Orcas Island Wrestling Club.

On Feb. 16 four young athletes from the Orcas Island Wrestling Club made their way to Ferndale for the Washington State Wrestling Association Force Freedom Open Tournament. After a short ceremony honoring three female Ferndale High School wrestlers from the Lummi Nation with some singing and dancing performed by members of the Lummi Nation, the young wrestlers hit the mats in their last tournament before heading to the Tacoma Dome for the state tournament on Feb. 23.

Elliot Wooding placed third in the 8U 45-49-pound class. He lost his first match by a 17-2 tech fall, won his second match with a pin and lost his third match to a 10-0 major decision.

David Nunez secured first place in the 8U 85-pound class. He won his first match with a pin and won his second match with a pin. He wanted to wrestle more so he found another wrestler near his age but at least 10 pounds heavier, and they wrestled an exhibition match which he lost by 2 points in the final seconds of the third round.

Aria Griffin placed fourth in the girls third- to fifth-grade 68.2-70.7-pound class. She lost her first match by a 13-5 major decision and lost her second match by getting pinned. Her third match was something to see. The score was tied 3-3 after the first three rounds of the match, sending it into Sudden Victory overtime in which the first score wins. They started on their feet and neither wrestler scored the fourth round. The “coin” was flipped and the opponent won the choice and neither scored in the fifth round. The wrestlers were then put in a down position with Aria on the bottom and her opponent on top. The rule said that if neither wrestler scored, the victory would go to the wrestler who started on top and held their position for the whole round. If the wrestler on bottom could escape, then the victory would go to them. The match ended with Aria losing the match by a 3-3 UTB.

Alexis Armas placed third in the girls third- to fifth-grade 76.4-84-pound class. She lost her first match by getting pinned, won her second match with a 13-5 major decision then lost her third match by getting pinned.

One more tournament in the books and one more tournament to go. The club will be taking a few wrestlers to the Washington Folkstyle State Championships in the Tacoma Dome on Feb. 23. Around 1,700 wrestlers are registered for this tournament, and it is expected to be a great experience for the Orcas youth who have worked hard for the opportunity as members of the Orcas Island Wrestling Club.