PORT ANGELES — The “Let’s get fired up” chant by the Port Angeles cheerleaders was timed perfectly.
The Roughrider wrestling team had dropped the first two contested matches of Wednesday’s senior night match against a talented Bremerton team and was in need of a spark.
Enter Adam Borde at 138 pounds. Borde’s quick takedown got the crowd into the match and his dominant performance ended in a well-earned pin at 3:26 and six points for Port Angeles.
Port Angeles’s Tom Arand, top, attempts to control Bremerton’s Chris Lane at 160 lbs., on Wednesday night at Port Angeles High School. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Senior Josh Boe followed at 145 and was up 2-0 within the match’s first 10 seconds. Boe shook off a headgear malfunction with some acrobatic moves — a twisting reversal and a spear-like takedown earning more points before he went on to pin his opponent with 11 seconds remaining in the third and final period.
Those two victories paved the way for the Riders’ 52-17 Olympic League dual meet victory over the Knights.
“Adam and Josh,” Port Angeles coach Rob Gale said. “Like always, Adam and Josh got us going. But tonight was more of a team effort.”
The Riders also received impressive performances from freshman Tom Arand at 160 pounds and sophomore Zach Gavin at 152.
Arand controlled the entirety of his match, earning an 11-2 major decision win.
“Tom’s a freshman, and he has a little jiu-jitsu in his background which helps; it gives him more mat time, more 1-on-1 competition. A lot of people can’t handle that individual aspect of the sport. And he came out, wrestled well and got a big four points for us.
“And Zach Gavin, a sophomore, wrestled up a weight because Josh Boe is at 145 and earned a great pin.”
Zach Gavin of Port Angeles, top, takes on Bremerton’s Rosco Frith in their 152-lb. bout on Wednesday on the Roughtrider mat in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Gavin’s pin came with 12 seconds left in the first period.
Junior Jason Kibe came close to a pinfall victory in the first 10 seconds of his match — but had to work a little harder, picking up the pin just 29 seconds in for the Riders.
Kibe’s commanding performance was arguably the most impressive of the match.
“Kibe is a workhorse, man,” Gale said. “Everybody runs from him. He’s going to be a high state placer.”
Jaymisen Morrison pinned his heavyweight opponent in the first round to end the night on a solid note — a senior triumphing on senior night.
Adam Borde of Port Angeles, top, wrestlies with Jacoby Serato of Bremerton in the 138-lb. weight class Wednesday in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
In all, Port Angeles won six of 10 contested matches, outpointing Bremerton 34-17 in those contests. The Riders also picked up three wins and 18 points through forfeits.
The victory showed Port Angeles stands to be a force once again next season with Borde, Kibe, Arand and Gavin all returning.
“Adam will be a senior and Jason, too,” Gale said. “We have a nice group coming back next year. Just have to get some heavyweights, but there are some secrets out there.”
The win set up a crucial double dual match between Port Angeles (4-1), North Kitsap (5-0) and Olympic (5-1) with the Olympic League title on the line late Thursday.
Gale said some of his wrestlers were planning on moving down a weight class to provide total coverage across all weights for the double dual.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
