La Conner duo medals at Sultan mat tourney

Lack of depth didn’t keep La Conner High wrestlers from reaching lofty heights in Sultan on Saturday.

Two-thirds of La Conner grapplers entered at the elite Sky Valley Invitational Tournament, which drew top wrestling programs — both large and small — from around Puget Sound, returned home with bronze medals.

Of course, by two-thirds, we quite literally mean two of three.

“We only took three wrestlers down there,” said Braves head coach Barry Harper, “but they all did really well.”

Especially Sam Smith and Elijah Adams.

Both placed third in their respective weight divisions.

Smith, who has literally taken hold of techniques as soon as they’re introduced in workouts, captured third place at 120 pounds.

Adams, a polished and poised veteran ranked among the state’s best, matched that finish in the 182s.

They and La Conner teammates Matt Harper and Josh Summers go to the mats again today, Wednesday, with league rivals at a key NW2B meet hosted by Concrete. Weigh-in is set for 3 p.m.

The La Conner quartet is also ticketed for another multi-school event this Saturday. The Braves will be part of a bracket expected to draw a dozen or more teams.

“This,” Harper told La Conner Weekly News on Sunday, “is definitely the busy part of our schedule.”

One that requires them to be part of the weigh-in line at Darrington by 10 a.m. on Saturday.

La Conner, as has been the case all season, will be there in full force — looking to tip the scales with quality rather than quantity.