MARYSVILLE — After a near three-week absence from contact, the Eagles grapplers finally got back on the mat this week.

In a microcosm of Arlington’s wrestling season, though, the Eagles were forced to play catch-up against Marysville-Pilchuck in 48-27 Wesco North loss.

“I didn’t expect to get pinned right away, but that happens,” said Arlington coach Shaun Williams.

The dual meet began with the 140-pound match and Blake Thunline was caught on his back in the first round by Thomas Haas.

From there, the Eagles scored a pin by Matt Badgley at 145-pounds to even the team score at 6-6. Badgley was able take down opponent Spencer Cynkar four times before pinning him in 4:48.

Arlington then scored a 15-0 major decision in the 152-pound match when Nathan Shortt dominated opponent Josh Zaborowski.

“I thought we were able to compete at almost every weight in the middle,” said Williams.

Marysville then scored two consecutive pins and did not look back to take the win.

In all, Williams said it wasn’t a bad showing against the No. 2 team in the Wesco North, especially since his boys weren’t able to wrestle for nearly three weeks due to a majority of the team suffering a skin disease that shut down practices and forced the Eagles to reschedule six matches and bow out of two tournaments.

“We were hit by it the day after we got back from Christmas,” Williams said. “Three weeks — that’s not much if you’re training all year, but for these kids who wrestle three or four months out of the year, it’s an eternity.”

Although able to lift weights and run to maintain conditioning and strength, Arlington’s boys weren’t able to wrestle again until a dual meet with Stanwood Jan. 18.

“We actually didn’t have a contact practice until the day after the Stanwood meet,” said Williams.

But now all that is behind the Eagles and William isn’t concerned with it either as he believes the postseason is where his team is better suited to shine.

“We wrestled okay tonight against a duel team and I we are more of a tournament team,” he said.

The Eagles have a pair of meets against Lake Stevens and Monroe, Jan. 26 and 27 before the district tournament Feb. 4 and 5 at Cavelero Middle School.

Recording wins for Arlington against Marysville-Pilchuck were Brady Quinton at 215 pounds, who defeated Skyler Hatch 12-2 and Conner Gonzales at 119 pounds, who pinned Isreal Lopez in 3:39. Also, 125-pounder Hunter Amundson pinned Ruben Escalante in 3:45.

Williams said he was also impressed by the performance of freshman Bryce Thomas, who held his own against Christian Mendoza at 135 pounds.