Wolves wrestlers rebounded well last week following a 74-10 loss to Klahowya (Jan. 9).

Coach Charles Drabek said he saw a lot of improvement the next night in a home meet against North Mason, another loss 30-43.

“I felt the kids wrestled much better and smarter,” Drabek said of the two matches.

“We’re a young team and getting better each time.”

Sequim’s wrestlers saw steeper competition at the Bainbridge Island Invite on Jan. 12 where they placed ninth (54 points) out of 12. Seventh-ranked Port Angeles won the invite with 226.5 points and Forks placed second with 187.

Klahowya, 74-10 loss

One of the constant highlights for the Sequim squad, Luke Mooney, wrestling at 145, pinned Eli Everson for the 13-9 win. Brandon Field (132 pounds) won 14-4 against Gavin Hamblet.

North Mason, 43-30 loss

Mooney wrestled again at 145 (up from his normal weight class again) pinning Alex Floathé.

Royhon Agostine, beat Cameron Niesan (126) in a come-from-behind win 13-10.

He said he’s never had a comeback like that before and he could tell Niesan was becoming tired. His plan was to keep taking him down before beating him at the neutral game.

Jody Allen also beat Jackson O’Dette in the 138-weight class.

Bainbridge Island Invite, ninth place  

Two Sequim wrestlers, Mooney (138) and Field (132) medaled in Bainbridge Island.

Luke Mooney placed second after losing in the finals to Ricky Barragan of Forks 7-6. Drabek said Mooney nearly won but Barragan escaped with 10 seconds to go in regulation. Mooney pinned his previous opponents.

Brandon Field won 8-7 against Nanito Sanchez of Forks in their first match but was pinned by first-place finisher Brian Burchett in the semifinals. Field placed fourth by losing to Sanchez in the third match by a score of 5-3.

Drabek sees a lot of promise for Field, a sophomore.

“He’s going to be a much better wrestler in the next few years,” Drabek said. “He’s the kind of kid who can be a surprise. He’s tall and lanky and for his weight class that’s a bonus.”

Agostine took fifth in the 126-weight class and went 2-2. Drabek said Agostine was upset with himself, but he told him that it’s OK to lose now.

“This is where we learn to grow from the losses,” Drabek said.

“I’d rather have you lose now than at regionals or districts. Let’s take something from your losses and use the next three weeks to figure that out.”

Emily Halversen wrestled in the 120-weight class and pinned North Kitsap wrestler Deven Kibodeaux. She finished the invite 1-2.

“Even in her losses, you can tell she learns a lot,” Drabek said.

“When the girls start wrestling for their postseason, that experience is really going to pay off. She’s stepping up this year.”

Other wrestlers who won at least one match include Brett Wright (145) 1-1, who took seventh, and Brady Young (285) who went 1-1.

On Thursday, Jan. 17, the team travels to Bremerton, which Drabek sees as a good opportunity for Sequim.

“It’s doable,” he said about a win. “We match up well against them.”