LYNDEN - It wasn't hard to spot the most satisfied wrestling coach at the Lynden Invitational - a guy who wasn't even supposed to be there - and the athlete who was probably the happiest winner wasn't tough to pick out, either.
Bellingham senior Andrew Peterson not only asked the announcer to wish his mother Caroline a happy birthday before the championship match, but he also gave her a tournament title plus a second gift - Most Outstanding Wrestler honors in the lower seven weights.
Two years after Mount Baker failed to place a wrestler at state for the only time in coach Ron Lepper's 18-season career, the Mountaineers won their fifth tournament title this season and their 10th such championship across a two-year span.
Peterson (28-5), who placed fourth at Class 2A state as a junior and won an academic state title, could not have been more thrilled after claiming a 3-0 shutout in the 138-pound final on Saturday, Jan. 21, with all the points in the final round against tough Mount Vernon senior Pavel Okara (27-3).
"It's pretty important," said Peterson, who was one of eight champions from Whatcom County among 15 local finalists in the 13-school tournament, which included every local team except Blaine and Squalicum.
"My mom has been ill and can't come to many of my events but she's here today," said Peterson, who scored an escape and a takedown after two scoreless periods and claimed two pins and an 8-0 decision in his earlier matches. "I was just so glad to get a win for her."
Lepper's Mountaineers, who won the tourney with 243 points to beat runner-up Mount Vernon's 192.5, are also unbeaten in dual meets over a two-year span (15-0) and were disappointed that snow prevented them from competing in the Dream Duals in Spokane -- a team tradition.
"I wasn't very happy after the semifinals because we lost seven of 11," said Lepper. "But we had a team meeting and I'm proud of how the kids responded. We went 4 for 4 (to win titles) in the finals and we were 10-2 in all the matches for places. I just feel good about that, and it was real good preparation for the postseason."
Baker's four champions were sophomore Joey Walton (23-5) at 126 pounds, junior Zach Larson (23-5) at 152, senior Levi Wigg (20-4) at 170, and senior Alec Postlewait (29-1), who won his sixth tournament title of the season at 285.
In addition to Peterson, who led Bellingham to third place with 159.5 points, local champions were Ferndale senior Isaac Robison (26-1) with his third tourney championship at 120, Bellingham senior Nolan Takemura (12-1) at 132, and Ferndale junior Kam Williams (26-3) at 220.
Five of the championship finals were between Whatcom County wrestlers. Walton claimed a 13-3 win over Nooksack sophomore Tanner Klemann (20-3); Takemura took a 12-0 decision over Meridian's Jack Hallmark (14-4), who led a combined Trojan/Mountaineer team to fourth place with 145 points; Larson claimed an 11-5 victory over Lynden's Ryan Mouat (15-6); Williams pinned Bellingham's Melvin Deal (12-7) and Postlewait gained his third victory over the season with a pin over Sehome junior Titi Lamositele (12-7).
The other Whatcom County runners-up were Lynden's Ryan Meggison (18-6) at 145 and Sehome's Dante Gray (22-3) at 182.
Postlewait was gratified with his pin of Lamositele, who lost a dramatic 8-7 decision to the Mount Baker senior in the Northwest Conference meet a week earlier.
"I've been working on my aggressiveness," said Postlewait, who is ranked second among all classes at his weight by Washingtonwrestlingreport.com -- the only such Whatcom County top three honor so far this season. "I feel confident going into the postseason."
Likewise, Ferndale's Williams says all those summer workouts turned out to be worth it.
"I'm definitely feeling it (success) a lot more," Williams said. "I went into the weight room pretty much every day in the offseason, and while others were sleeping in during the summer, I'd be working out. I'm very happy with where I am - the offseason has made a huge difference."
Larson said he was happy to get over "the second-place barrier" with the first tourney title of his career and a 4-0 day.
"I was second in the NWC and second at the Battle of the Border, so I'm glad to finally get over that," said Larson, who went 4-0 with one pin on what he felt was the best day of his career.
Ferndale teammate Robison, who is ranked fifth in Class 3A at the state level, wants to return to state with only one regular-season loss.
"I'm very happy where I am (with only one loss) heading into the postseason," he said. "The goal is the same - a state title."
Walton, who won his second title of the season, noticed something about his style.
"It seems I do better when I'm wrestling in tournament finals," said Walton, who credited Klemann with a gutty effort after he continued the third period despite an injury at the end of the second round. "I always feel I could be better."
Takemura, a three-time state tournament qualifier and two-time placer, has lost only to teammate Andrew Peterson. Takemura feels he is making up for lost time after missing much of the season with a broken thumb on his right hand.
"It sure was hard watching everyone else wrestle, so it's really good to be back," he said.
Wigg, who scored a first-round pin at 1:39, plans to play college football, so he is treasuring his final opportunity to return to state and win a title.
"I still feel good - nothing has changed," he said. "I'm definitely doing my best."
Mount Vernon's Jordan Watts (160) won Most Outstanding for the heavier seven weights.
LYNDEN INVITATIONAL
Team scores: Mount Baker 243, Mount Vernon 192.5, Bellingham 159.5, Meridian/Mount Baker combination 145, Lynden 116, Meadowdale 113, Ferndale 111, Glacier Peak 110, Oak Harbor 93, Sehome 84, Eastside Catholic 76, Nooksack Valley 62, Anacortes 13, Lake Washington 3.
Most Outstanding Wrestlers: Andrew Peterson (138), Bellingham; Jordon Watts (160), Mount Vernon.
106: Nathan Allen (Mount Vernon) pinned Jeremy Vester (Oak Harbor); 113: Matt Iwicki (Eastside Catholic) dec. Luis Reyna (Mount Vernon) 10-2; 120: Isaac Robison (Ferndale) dec. Jahleel Vester (Oak Harbor) 13-4; 126: Joey Walton (Mount Baker) dec. Tanner Klemann (Nooksack) 13-3; 132: Nolan Takemura (Bellingham) dec. Jack Hallmark (Meridian) 12-0; 138: Andrew Peterson (Bellingham) dec. Pavel Okara (Mount Vernon) 3-0; 145: Jacob Elledge (Glacier Peak) dec. Ryan Meggison (Lynden) 7-2; 152: Zach Larson (Mount Baker) dec. Ryan Mouat (Lynden) 11-5; 160: Jordon Watts (Mount Vernon) pinned Anthony Roy (Eastside Catholic); 170: Levi Wigg (Mount Baker) pinned Cody Patrick (Mount Vernon); 182: Sean Elledge (Glacier Peak) dec. Dante Gray (Sehome) 10-6; 195: Ciaran Ball (Meadowdale) dec. Joe Stoutt (Eastside Catholic) 12-2; 220: Kam Williams (Ferndale) pinned Melvin Deal (Bellingham); 285: Alec Postlewait (Mount Baker) pinned Titi Lamositele (Sehome).
