FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Linfield and Pacific, as the only two NCAA Division III wrestling programs in the Northwest, face each other twice each season – in a home-and-home arrangement. 
 
When the Boxers came to McMinnville early in the season, they defeated Linfield 37-18. When the Wildcats made the return trip to Pacific on Friday night, it was a much closer affair. Linfield outscored Pacific 21-11 in contested matches, but fell 29-27 in the team score because of forfeits. 
 
Several Wildcats reversed earlier-season losses on Friday. 
 
"Really, really nice efforts tonight from our team," Linfield coach Frank Johnson said afterward. "Some of our kids couldn't get here, either because they were snowed in at home or because of family emergencies, but the wrestlers we had competed their hearts out." 
 
Jacob Moore lost by six points to TJ Turner back in November. On Friday, he reversed that outcome to start this dual with a six-point win. 
 
At the other end of the weight chart, heavyweight Julian Ortiz came into Friday's dual with an 0-3 record against Pacific's Garrett Olbrich. Twice, Olbrich had won by pin and once by major decision. This time, Ortiz controlled the match and built a 9-6 lead in the third round before taking down Olbrich one final time and pinning him. 
 
"[Julian] wrestled better than I have ever seen him wrestle before," Johnson said. "That was one of our highlights on the night, definitely." 
 
Lucien Lefebvre at 165 pounds and Ethan Ensrud at 174 also pinned their Boxer opponents to round out a strong night for the Mat Cats. 
 
"Now, we get ready for regionals," Johnson said. "For both our men and our women, this is the time to be peaking – and I think a lot of them are." 
 
NEXT
Linfield's women head to Denton, Texas, for the National Collegiate Women's Wrestling Championships Region VIII tournament on Feb. 22. The Wildcat men head to the NCAA Upper Midwest Regionals Feb. 28 and March 1 in Minneapolis, Minn.