Josh Friesen and Joel Chacon both look up at the clock as Firesen hooks Chacon from behind during their match at the dual meet between McNary and North Salem on Jan. 11, at McNary High School. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Josh Friesen hooks Joel Chacon’s ankles in defense while upside down durind the dual meet between McNary and North Salem on Jan. 11, at McNary High School. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Liam Koenig drives North Salem’s Andres Alvareez back with a single leg durinng a dual meet on Jan. 11, at McNary High School. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Luke Racine bridges out of Nahvaeh Rose of North Salem’s pin attempt on Jan. 11, at McNary High School. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
Max Blanco sprawls out defending against Aundre Chacon of North Salem at a dual meet between McNary and North Salem on Jan. 11, at McNary High School. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes) 
William Thomas flips over Samuel Davis from North Salem on Jan. 11, during the dual meet between McNary and North Salem, at McNary High School. (JOSHUA MANES/Keizertimes)
Celtic wrestling was back in action on Wednesday, hosting North Salem in the second league meet of the season.
McNary had three pinfall, one decision and four forfeit wins en route to the 45-36 victory.
“We knew that North was coming in with not a full lineup, but the kids they do have are going to be tough, they’re going to come right at us,” McNary head coach Sam Martin said. “So we approached it with a bit of a hard-nosed, get down to business type of approach. We moved some kids around weight-wise. We put our kids in positions to win and came out with a win today.”
Two Celtics wrestled up a weight class.
Max Blanco, who weighed in at 113-pounds but typically competes at 106-pounds, wrestled at 120. Blanco took on Aundre Chacon, losing by pinfall at the end of the third round.
This was the third meeting between the two, and they had been tied at one win a piece prior, according to Martin.
Josh Friesen competed at 182-pounds, despite weighing his typical 170. Friesen defeated Joel Chacon by decision 10-3.
“You could tell there was a size difference,” Martin said. “But it speaks to the two of them, they’ll wrestle the best competition possible.”
Donovin Garia had the shortest match of the night, pinning Joshua Hernandez in 38 seconds. This is becoming a habit for Garcia, who finished his match against South Salem’s Kayden Stevenson last week in 26 seconds.
Despite the win, Martin saw the sobering fact that it was a narrow margin of victory for how many points they were awarded via forfeit.
We’re given those points and only win by nine, it’s tough to look at that and be super happy about it,” Martin said. “But at the end of the day you just kind of have to be happy that it’s in the win column for us.”
| Weight | Match | McNary | North Salem | |
| 106 | Pedro Schay Vega (McNary) over Unknown (For.) | 6 | 0 | |
| 113 | Joseph Barros II (McNary) over Unknown (For.) | 6 | 0 | |
| 120 | Aundre Chacon (North Salem) over Max Blanco (McNary) (Fall 5:47) | 0 | 6 | |
| 126 | Liam Koenig (McNary) over Andres Alvarez (North Salem) (Fall 3:11) | 6 | 0 | |
| 132 | RJ Chacon (North Salem) over Leo Gonzalez (McNary) (Fall 3:34) | 0 | 6 | |
| 138 | Donovin Garcia (McNary) over Joshua Hernandez (North Salem) (Fall 0:38) | 6 | 0 | |
| 144 | Isaiah Manzo (McNary) over Unknown (For.) | 6 | 0 | |
| 150 | Nahaven Rose (North Salem) over Luke Racine (McNary) (Fall 1:59) | 0 | 6 | |
| 157 | William Thomas (McNary) over Samuel Davis (North Salem) (Fall 2:25) | 6 | 0 | |
| 165 | Noah Rudolph (McNary) over Unknown (For.) | 6 | 0 | |
| 175 | Josh Friesen (McNary) over Joel Chacon (North Salem) (Dec 10-3) | 3 | 0 | |
| 190 | Jayce Olsen (North Salem) over Manny De Los Reyes (McNary) (Fall 4:23) | 0 | 6 | |
| 215 | Imyas Aguilar (North Salem) over Jesse Mendoza-Falcon (McNary) (Fall 1:02) | 0 | 6 | |
| 285 | Isaiah Reyes (North Salem) over Diego Piceno (McNary) (Fall 4:24) | 0 | 6 |