The Evergreen Wolverines won a close match that was back-and-forth early versus the Kennedy Lancers in Seamount League wrestling action at Kennedy Thursday.

The final score was 36-31 but one wouldn't have thought the Wolverines were going to win this one after the first few matches, which were mostly Kennedy wins. Kennedy won four of the first six matches to lead 21-10. And, since that subject of score-change is mentioned, actually the Lancers came back, too. They were down 10-3 after the first three matches before getting straight pins the next three to lead by the above mentioned 11 points.

So, in this see-saw ride, the Wolverines finally began to teeter totter their way and began to take control in the heaviest two weights and seldom looked back.

"It's been an up and down season," said Wolverines coach Chris Humphries, whose team only got their second win of the year.

The up, in this match anyway, started with Humphries' son, Neils, winning 11-2 in his 152-pound match that gave the Wolverines that 10-3 lead. The down was getting pinned three straight matches after that. The up continued with 215 pounder, Corey Laufasa, a standout football player, too, getting a pin at 3:27.

Laufasa only has two losses this season, losses that came, according to his coach, from sickness and mental mistakes, as much as anything.

Laufasa is very good according to his coach.

Top eight in the state?

"If he's good, he can hang," said Humphries.

Another super Wolverines wrestler that got a forfeit win in the 275 pound class is Senio Kelemente, another standout of the football team who also has only a couple losses. He is another that lost for the same reasons pretty much.

Wrestling, too, in the heavyweight class, yet another football player, is Cody Treddenbarger. He is only a freshman but he can hold his own. He held his own in football on the line as a frosh and on the mat he has a couple losses only.

State top-end, too?

"If he doesn't make mistakes," said Humphries, with assistant coach John Scheschy, adding in, "This kid's our future."

Tredenbarger likes sparring with Kelemente in practices.

"He always goes hard against me every day," said Treddenbarger.

Pretty amazing feat for Treddenbarger to already be so good, considering that Kelemente went to state last year.

Treddenbarger's goal is not unbrash at all.

"Make it to state," said Treddenbarger. "And let the chips fall where they may."

"They are close in challenge," said Humphries of Treddenbarger going against Kelemente in practices. At state, if both win, they could face each other, even at districts, and, before that, the league Seamount tournament which is at Mount Rainier Feb. 1 this year.

The Lancers' Steve Conn is the top one for the red and navy blue. He is on track for a good season with less than a handful of losses.

"On track," he said.

Conn, a sophomore, pinned his foe at 1:60 in 2:20 of the second round. Then his bigger senior brother, Web, pinned his guy in 2:38. He was the only senior on the night for the Lancers to win on the school's "senior night."

Then the third straight pin for the Lancers, and the only other one of the night was by Derick Lewis, a sophomore, pinning his wrestler in 3:16.

Kennedy coach Donnie Moore mentioned that his guys were coming back from a lot of sickness.

"We came back from the flu, where the score was within one match," Moore said. "It's a young group. They are doing well. I am proud of them."