Shorewood wrestling - one close loss and one victory that makes history

By Clark Norton

It’s not often that a team is challenged to accomplish something that has never been done before, but that was the task handed to the Shorewood wrestling team Thursday night as they began the season with a double dual against a pair of top ranked teams in #5 Stanwood and #10 Oak Harbor.

In 38 years of existence the Thunderbirds had a combined zero wins against the two northern foes, until tonight.

The evening began with a grinding match against #5 Stanwood. In the first bout at 145 pounds Shorewood senior captain Erik Harris-Uldall returned after missing the second half of last season and was greeted by Stanwood senior captain West Weinert, ranked #2 in the state for his weight class.  

Weinert controlled the entire match in securing a decisive 9-2 decision to give Stanwood a 3-0 lead. The Spartans would run out to a commanding 33-6 lead. Shorewood pulled within three points at 39-36 with the help of forfeits from Stanwood, but #7 ranked Stanwood senior Nathan McCaughan closed the match with a dominant 16-2 victory over freshman Matthew McMillian for a final score of 43-36.

Coach Derek Norton described the match by saying, “They knocked the rust off us with a right hook to the face.”

The second match of the night against #10 Oak Harbor didn’t start any easier for the Thunderbirds. 

This time is was 160 pound senior captain Braden Kalloway who ran into a top ranked wrestler, #5 Mark Johnston. Johnston led the entire time for a 12-3 victory, giving Oak Harbor a 10-0 lead after two matches.

Instead of folding, Shorewood thundered back to win the next seven matches, five by pin, for a 38-10 lead. Oak Harbor wasn’t done though, winning three matches in row itself, pulling within 10 points at 38-28 with just two matches to go. 138 pound freshman Matthew McMillian again had a chance to win to seal the match for his team and he made the most of it.

In a sweet reversal from before McMillian punished his opponent with non-stop half nelsons before clinching the team victory with a third round pin. The 44-34 team victory was the first ever over Oak Harbor for the Thunderbirds.

Shorewood 36 - Stanwood 43 @ Stanwood HS (first match)

106: Rhaye Samson (SWOD) win by forfeit

113: Aiden Smith (SWOD) win by forfeit

120: Kyle Zacharias (STWD) win by forfeit

126: Tae Thongdee (SWOD) pinned Michael Mezzone (STWD) 3:41

132: Shea O’Leary (SWOD) win by forfeit

138: Nathan McCaughan (STWD) maj. dec. Matthew McMIllian (SWOD) 16-2

*145: West Weinert (STWD) dec. Erik Harris-Uldall (SWOD) 9-2

152: Mike Sandow (STWD) pinned Sam Dedinsky (SWOD) 3:03

160: Braden Kalloway (SWOD) pinned Jakob Keizer (STWD) 1:08

170: Trey Keizer (STWD) pinned Andrew Chum (SWOD) 4:21

182: Arie Van Veen (STWD) pinned Kaden Carpenter (SWOD) 5:38

195: Anthony Ortega (STWD) pinned Ivan Valiente (SWOD) 1:48

220: Garret Arrona (STWD) win by forfeit

285: Erca Erdenebayer (SWOD) win by forfeit

Shorewood 44 - Oak Harbor 34 @ Stanwood High School (second match)

106: Rhaye Samson (SW) pinned Isabel Garcia (OH) 1:34

113: Aiden Smith (SW) dec. Robert Pennington (OH) 7-2

120: Garrett Stahl (OH) win by forfeit

126: Michael Lym (OH) pinned Tae Thongdee (SW) 5:42

132: Christian Bertram (OH) pinned Shea O’Leary (SW) 3:21

138: Matthew McMillian (SW) pinned Joseph Fields (SW) 5:29

145: Jeremy Vester (OH) win by inj. def Erik Harris-Uldall (SW)

*152: Dimond Piper (OH) pinned Sam Dedinsky (SW) 3:14

160: Mark Johnston (OH) maj. dec. Braden Kalloway (SW) 12-3

170: Andew Chum (SW) tech. fall Nick Dugan (OH) 19-4

182: Kaden Carpenter (SW) pinned Martin Powers (OH) 0:51

195: Ivan Valiente (SW) pinned Josh McKinzie (OH) 0:55

220: Troy Holloway-Beach (SW) pinned Camron Robards (OH) 0:39

285: Erca Erdenebayer (SW) pined Jackson Constant (OH) 3:38

Record: Shorewood 0-0 WESCO South , 1-1 Overall