HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING: Pioneers down Meridian, Friday Harbor at home

The Nooksack Valley wrestling team received big efforts from its seniors as well as freshman Hunter Whittern as it defeated Meridian 45-24 and Friday Harbor 54-6 in a pair of non-conference matches on Saturday, Jan. 28.

Whittern pinned Friday Harbor's Marquis Napier in 2 minutes, 50 seconds in the 132-pound class, but lost to Meridian's Jack Hallmark by pin in 2:35.

Even with the loss, Nooksack Valley coach Chad Parson said in a phone interview he was pleased with Whittern's effort.

"He had a particularly good day," Parson said. "He is an up and coming stud for Nooksack being just a freshman."

It wasn't all just Whittern as a pair of seniors got in on the action as well.

Pioneers' senior Austin Poor pinned Friday Harbor's Sam Eibold at 1:21 in the 170-pound class. Fellow senior Thomas Sturgeon pinned Friday Harbor's Aiden Anders in 54 seconds and beat Meridian's Zach Gray 6-4 at 145.

Meridian's J.J. Hansen pinned Nooksack Valley's Parker Schram at 2:41, but the Pioneers' Paul Newell pinned Meridian's Troy Rathjen in 1:21.

Newell then went on to pin Friday Harbor's Alexander Cripanton in 30 seconds.

Blake Hammond (182) also earned a pin for the Pioneers, who picked up two forfeits against Friday Harbor and seven against Meridian.

"It felt pretty good going against Meridian and Friday Harbor," Nooksack Valley coach Chad Parson said in a phone interview. "I wish they could have filled their weight classes, but it is what it is."

NOOKSACK VALLEY 45, MERIDIAN 24,

106: Michael Kipling (NV) forfeit. 113: Tyler Miller (NV) forfeit. 120: Paul Newell (NV) pin Troy Rathjen (Meridian) 1:21. 126: Artemio Sanchez (NV) forfeit. 132: Jack Hallmark (Meridian) pin Hunter Whittern (NV) 2:35. 138: J.J. Hansen (Meridian) pin Parker Schram (NV) 2:41. 145: Thomas Sturgeon (NV) dec. Zack Gray (Meridian) 6-4. 152: Daryk Heidt (NV) foreit. 160: Tyler Warner (NV) forfeit. 170: Austin Poor (NV) forfeit. 182: Blake Hammond (NV) forfeit. 195: James Reedy-Capp (Meridian) forfeit. 220: double forfeit. 285: double forfeit.

NOOKSACK VALLEY 54, FRIDAY HARBOR 6,

106: Michael Kipling (NV) forfeit. 113: Tyler Miller (NV) forfeit. 120: Paul Newell (NV) pin Alexander Cripanton (Friday Harbor) 0:30. 126: Artemio Sanchez (NV) forfeit. 132: Hunter Whittern (NV) pin Marquis Napier (Friday Harbor) 2:50. 138: Mason Andersopn (NV) forfeit. 145: Thomas Sturgeon (NV) pin Aiden Anders (Friday Harbor) 0:54. 152: Tyler Warner (NV) dec. Tate Brumsickle (Friday Harbor) 7-0. 160: Daryk Heidt (NV) pin Carson Brown (Friday Harbor) 0:41. 170: Austin Poor (NV) pin Sam Eibold (Friday Harbor) 1:21. 182: Blake Hammond (NV) pin Dusty West (Friday Harbor) 3:50. 195: double forfeit. 220: double forfeit. 285: Willy Dunn (Friday Harbor) forfeit.