Sports - Sports News

POSTED: Thursday, Jan. 08, 2009

PREP WRESTLING: Blaine dominates Lynden

LYNDEN - Jeremy Holdaas and Darrell Price have a way of taking the suspense out of a wrestling match, but they're hoping to create nothing but tension in the Class 2A state championships next month.

Blaine fans already are talking about the prospect of a title match between the two long-time training partners, who wrapped up the Borderites' 53-18 Northwest Conference victory over Lynden with victories over stubborn opponents on Thursday, Jan. 8.

Holdaas won a major decision at 215 pounds and Price followed with a victory at 285, giving the Borderites (6-0 overall, 3-0) a 29-18 lead after the Lions (1-1 NWC) pulled within 22-18 in only their second dual meet of Lynden's football delayed and weather-plagued season.

Both wrestlers feel that Price's 3-1 victory over Holdaas in the recent Las Vegas Invitational may have been a preview of the Class 2A final at 215 pounds, which both competitors will enter. At the prestigious Las Vegas meet, they were the class of a weight division with more than 50 entrants.

Since they're buddies who have helped each other for three years, neither Holdaas, a junior, nor Price, a senior who has been wrestling at Blaine for three years, is about to predict a winner.

"We were roommates in Las Vegas and it was real quiet after our match," Price said.

"I really think it could be Darrell and me at state," said Holdaas (15-1), who has continually wrestled since he was 5 years old. "That was my only loss this season."

"It really could be us in the final at state," Price (15-2) said in quick agreement.

Blaine needed strong performances from Holdaas and Price against two Lynden football standouts, who a month earlier were celebrating the Class 2A state championship.

Shortly before Holdaas and Price claimed the spotlight, Lynden junior Nathanael Frey (152), sophomore Dylan Cliett (160) and senior Niels Brisbane (189) - a Lynden Christian football standout who wrestles for the Lions - each scored pins. The three falls pulled the Lions within 22-18.

Blaine built its first 22 points via pins by fourth-year seniors Jacob Humphrey (130), who opened the match, and Tyson Foster (140), along with a major decision by D.J. Duncan (135), plus a 6-2 victory by junior Camden Nix (145) and a 4-3 win by Alex Pennington (171).

That left the pressure on Holdaas, who scored 15 consecutive points with seven different scoring moves to rally from a 6-2 deficit to a 17-6 major decision over All-Whatcom County football player Taylor Creighton. Price followed with a 5-1 win over promising junior Donavan Gratton.

At that point, 103-pound Blaine freshman Shaypher Hendricks had the honor of clinching the victory with a pin, since the Lions knew they would have to forfeit at 112. Coach Craig Foster's Borderites then completed a lightweight sweep with pins by sophomores Nick Barnes (119) and Tony Jordan (130).

Creighton made it tough in the first period against Holdaas, twice putting him on his back with quick three-point moves.

"I felt I could get out of those (predicaments)," said Holdaas, who did just that and did not surrender a point to Creighton over the final two periods, although the Lynden athlete avoided a pin. "The Lynden guy did a good job."

Gratton was impressive against Price in a scoreless third period for both heavyweights.

"For the most part, I thought we competed pretty well against a pretty good Blaine team," said Lynden coach Randy Anderson, well aware the Borderites are shooting for No. 1 at state after finishing second behind Deer Park last season.

"That's what's most important for us, going for the team championship," Price said, with Holdaas nodding quickly in agreement. There was no argument between them on that point.