TACOMA - Match after match the losses began to mount.

Bellingham won't wrestle today, neither will Squalicum nor Sehome.

Nineteen Whatcom County Class 2A wrestlers qualified for Mat Classic XXV. Only three won their first match. Only three ended up advancing to the medal rounds.

Don't tell Lynden all Whatcom County's 2A schools had a sub-par showing, though.

While none of the Lions' wrestlers are in the semifinals, Lynden advanced three of their four wrestlers to Day 2's medal rounds with solid performances Friday, Feb. 15, at the Tacoma Dome.

Ryan Meggison (170) and Caleb Newman (220) won their match but lost their second before winning their third-round matches. Nick Iaconetti (126) had to win one straight during his first state wrestling appearance to advance to Saturday.

"It's the best feeling I've ever had in my life," Iaconetti said. "I knew losing that first one was the biggest mistake I could have made, and I knew there was nothing else I could do to fix it but be the best I could be and win."

Iaconetti did just that, and he had plenty of motivation.

"My assistant coach was telling me this might be the first time we haven't had anybody advance to the second round," Iaconetti said. "He's been coaching me since I was a freshman, and I didn't want to let him down. I just had so much motivation."

Squalicum's Luke Jordan (120) was the third Whatcom County 2A wrestler to win his first-round match, but he lost his next two and was eliminated from the tournament.

It was the same story as last year for the Storm. In 2012, four Squalicum wrestlers failed to make the medal rounds. This time seven couldn't get to Saturday.

Iaconetti spoke for most 2A wrestlers.

"This is as hard as it gets," he said. "I've won two matches today, and they both were two of the top five hardest matches I've ever wrestled in my entire life."

Bellingham's Riley Takemura, Patrick Anderson, Blair Bennett and Dylan Hanson went two-and-out, while Sergio Torres won one match and lost two.

Sehome's Austin Vosburgh nearly gave the Mariners a state medalist but lost his final match. Mariners Jose Ramirez and Devin Robins went two-and-out.

Reach Andrew Lang at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-756-2862.

Reach ANDREW LANG at andrew.lang@bellinghamherald.com or call ext. 862.