Donnybrook leaves SK feeling good, proud

It will go down as one of the all-time classics in South Kitsap wrestling lore. So good, in fact, that South co-coach Chad Nass described it as a “donnybrook.”

Whichever phrase ends up being associated with South’s 38-27 dual-meet victory over Class 3A Peninsula on Wednesday night in Purdy, those involved have already said the event, which showcased much more than just great athletic ability, is one of the best in the school’s history.

“The kids fought hard,” Nass said. “From top to bottom, the effort from every kid was just outstanding.”

The meet saw four matches decided by two points or less, two of which went to overtime. It saw the lead change hands many times and it also saw Peninsula coach Chris Turner showing what sportsmanship is all about by turning away a sure victory in order to do what was right.

With the meet on the line, South’s Kyle Saltsgaver was called for an illegal slam in his 215-pound match. While the slam was not intentional, it was against the rules, Nass said. And if Saltsgaver’s opponent could not continue, the match would have gone Peninsula’s way, giving it enough points to win the meet.

But the match continued and Saltsgaver pinned his opponent at the five-minute mark to give South the win.

“Their coach showed a lot of class (Wednesday) night,” Nass said. “He’s a great guy anyway but the kid got up and he finished the match. It was a real classy gesture, a classy move on his part to have the kid finish the match. The kid could have quit and no one would have questioned it. He’s slammed, he’s hurt, he’s done, and they would have won the match.”

But that was just one of the many memorable moments on the night.

The Wolves’ Bobby Arendsee, going at 140-pounds, wrestled in his first varsity match and overcame a 7-1 deficit to win his match in overtime, 9-7.

“We weren’t surprised,” Nass said. “He’s got a lot of talent and he’s showed it in the mat room. It was a packed house and I think he may have had some jitterbugs the first two rounds. But once he realized he was OK, he just gutted it out through the third round.”

Steven Medina provided South yet another exciting victory as he went into overtime in the 152-pound class to earn an 11-9 win. South lost a couple of close matches but also saw Josiah Kipperberg and Brandon Kelly win by pins, while Brent Chriswell won his match by technical fall, 17-0.

“We were just two very evenly matched teams,” Nass said. “We could wrestle them 10 times and have a different winner every time.”

South heads north today for the Skagit Valley Invitational in Sedro-Wooley.

South Kitsap 38, Peninsula 27

103 - Josiah Kipperberg (SK) p. Bayer :49.

112 - Roberts (P) md. Robbie Luder 13-4.

119 - Jantz (P) p. John Delucia (SK) :58.

125 - Roger Nuttall (SK) d. T. Hove 10-7.

130 - Keel (P) d. Garrett Lyman (SK) 10-8.

135 - Brandon Kelly (SK) p. McCall 4:54.

140 - Bobby Arendsee (SK) d. Holsinger 9-7 (OT).

145 - Haas (P) p. Brady Winslow 5:29.

152 - Steven Medina (SK) d. Nate Hove 11-9 (OT).

160 - Jake Friedman (P) tech. fall Orry Perez 19-2.

171 - Brent Chriswell (SK) tech. fall Grandia 17-0.

189 - Oswald (P) d. Lenny Schwartz 9-3.

215 - Kyle Saltsgaver (SK) p. Delgado 5:02.

275 - Tony Duarte (SK) won by forfeit.

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