completed Thursday, March 2 as the local grapplers gained valuable experience and earned a 44-18 record overall versus their Olympic Peninsula opponents.

“We stepped up last night and brought great energy onto the mat,” said Coach Jim Wilcox.  “Many of our athletes have been putting in the time both in the wrestling room and in the weight room.  You can tell.”

A total of eight middle-school athletes went undefeated on the night. Those included Oliver Ingersoll (4-0), Savannah Grimm (3-0), Gracee Liskee (3-0), Jackson Dupuy (3-0), Kaleb Kruse (3-0), Sam Fox (3-0), Silas Morford (3-0), and Silas Klontz (2-0). Nine middle-school wrestlers remain undefeated after two events.

With just two meets so far this season, Damien Ilaraza has already broken the middle school’s season record for most escapes with 11. Ilaraza has already shattered the previous season record of six and looks to further the gap.

Blue Heron seventh-grader Zane Nichols — the lightest boy in the program at 75 pounds — earned his first victory of the season with a satisfying 9-5 win via points.

“There are four teams in our league. Each team has increased participation this season from last year, which is a blessing,” said Coach Ryan White. “There are so many kids competing that it is going to be tough to get everyone two matches at future events.  We got lucky this week because Forks [Middle School] was not able to attend due to a late snowstorm that shut their town down. This opened the door for our kids to get additional matches.”

This year’s Blue Heron program is a true combination of athletes from Chimacum and Port Townsend, with close to half the squad consisting of Chimacum kids.

“Currently, we have 33 youth registered for the team.  At our last meet we had 23 athletes wrestle. That is the most middle school athletes we have had compete in the four years I have been involved in the program,” Coach Joe Banks said. “Ten of the 23 competing athletes are Chimacum students.”

A major contributor toward the middle school program’s ability to host the home meet has been down to the support from East Jefferson Rivals wrestlers, whose season wrapped up in February.

“A big factor for the success of us hosting this event was the support of the high school wrestlers,” Coach Steve Grimm said. “We would like to recognize and thank Ike Banks, Lars Wakefield, Melody Douglas, Mi Amada Lanphear Ramirez, Isaiah Johnson, Carver Roberts, and Akili Clevenger for helping run the tables, shepherd kids, and coach our middle school wrestlers.”

While Blue Heron boasts a high-capacity squad this year, they could always use more athletes looking to learn the world’s oldest sport.

“We are doing a good job of filling our room with hard-working kids.  There is space for more middle school kids if they want to challenge themselves to a new activity,” said Coach Joey Johnson. “Practice is every school day except Competition Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5 [p.m.] in the Port Townsend High School wrestling room.”

The program’s next event was set for the afternoon of Wednesday, March 8 in Sequim.