Island grapplers break even in season’s first home match

By Luciano Marano • December 21, 2017 1:30 pm
Luciano Marano | Bainbridge Island Review - Bainbridge’s Rachel Longridge scored a quick win in the 120-pound bracket during the island team’s first home match, pinning Garfield’s Nhu-Phung Tran in 1:03.
Luciano Marano | Bainbridge Island Review - Bainbridge’s Rachel Longridge scored a quick win in the 120-pound bracket during the island team’s first home match, pinning Garfield’s Nhu-Phung Tran in 1:03.

The first home outing of the season saw the Bainbridge High varsity wrestling team go 1-for-1 against visitors from Garfield and Franklin high schools late last week.

It was also the team’s first conference matchup, and it left the Spartans with a season record of 1-1.

First, against Garfield, the Spartans breezed through to a speedy 60-24 victory. Then, against Franklin, they found themselves bested 48-33 in a much scrappier contest.

The Spartans went out to the Larry Brown Invitational Saturday, Dec. 9, and stayed on the road Thursday, Dec. 14, to wrestle Rainier Beach and Cleveland (at RB).

They will not wrestle at home again until 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, when they host Bishop Blanchet and Lakeside.

Against Garfield, the Spartans claimed four wins by forfeit. The Bulldogs got three.

There were no double forfeits.

In the 113-pound bout, Bainbridge’s Cameron Williams pinned Elijah Adorne in just 25 seconds.

Rachel Longridge, the sole Spartan female on the Bainbridge team, likewise scored a quick win in the 120-pound bracket, pinning Garfield’s Nhu-Phung Tran in 1:03.

Then, Indigo Weappa (126 pounds) was pinned by Garfield’s Johnte Bailey in 1:07. It was the island squad’s only non-forfeit loss of the match.

After that, things went down pretty quickly.

Oleg Maguire (138) pinned Leo McHegg in 46 seconds.

Ben Dunscombe (145) pinned Henry Ho in 1:35.

Clayton Marsh (152) pinned Tushigmaa Ariunbileg in 54 seconds.

Finally, Nate Michaels (170) pinned Xavier Weaver in 27 seconds.

Next, in the night’s second match, the Franklin Quakers left the Spartans shaking.

Bainbridge scored four forfeit wins, while Franklin notched only three, but when mettle met the mat, the Spartans came up short.

Franklin’s Luke Hauser (138 pounds) pinned Oleg Maguire in 2:43, and David Sy (145) likewise pinned Ben Dunscombe, in 41 seconds.

Also, 152-pound Quaker Hai-Trieu Tran finally pinned Clayton Marsh after a lengthy 5:22 scrap. Aidan Vlasaty (182) pinned BHS’ Clay Wren in 1:22, and heavyweight Angelo Belecina (285) pinned Bainbridge’s Sean Hooyer in 2:40.

Only two Spartans emerged on top from the Quaker rumble: 126-pound Longridge claimed a 5-3 decision win in overtime against Man Tse, and Nate Michaels (170) pinned Lincoln Tran in 1:33.