A loss can be intimidating for an athlete.

But for South Kitsap senior Brad Fedderson, it was an opportunity.

Fedderson previously lost against Olympia’s Steven Julian and Gig Harbor’s Jay Ubben, but defeated both to claim the 189-pound championship at Saturday’s SK Invitational.

“There was a bit of motivation for revenge,” Fedderson said.

He pinned Julian in 57 seconds in the semifinal and then won a 9-7 decision against Ubben for the championship. Fedderson also pinned Brandon Stringer from the Allstars in 43 seconds in the first match.

“I was really happy for him,” South coach Chad Nass said. “He avenged two league losses to win the championship and that’s pretty tough. He wrestled really, really well.”

Nass also noted that Fedderson won all-Narrows League honors as an offensive and defensive lineman and might still have been “emotionally into” football as wrestling season got under way.

“When he does something, he really pours himself into it,” Nass said.

As Fedderson won his championship, his longtime practice partner Matt Foxworthy watched. Foxworthy sat out of a tournament for a second consecutive weekend — he missed the 31st Central Kitsap Matman Classic on Jan. 12. The state’s top-ranked 215-pounder in Class 4A said a health issue prevented him from participating.

“It’s hard not wrestling at a tournament like this,” said Foxworthy, adding that he will participate in Tuesday’s regular-season finale against Foss that would give the Wolves 150 consecutive Narrows League dual-meet victories with a win.

Foxworthy said it was “gratifying” to watch his teammates perform well as the Wolves won the invitational with 202.5 points. Kentlake finished second with 180 points, followed by Kamiak (155.5), Olympia (133.5), Allstars (117), Gig Harbor (101), Evergreen (93) and North Kitsap (91).

In addition to Fedderson, Adam Ferguson (125 pounds), Quincy Lyman (140) and Tom Decker (285) won matches for South.

Decker pinned Kentlake’s Bob Tacheron in 36 seconds and then skipped a match because of a shortage of heavyweight participants before pinning Evergreen’s Micah Bagley in 1 minute, 56 seconds to earn the title.

“I felt it was halfway given to me,” Decker said. “It doesn’t feel the same as winning the full bracket.”

But after Decker was pinned in his match Friday night against Bellarmine Prep, Nass was happy with his progress.

“He’s been getting better every time he steps out,” he said. “He came out and was aggressive. Particularly in the heavyweight division, when you’re the aggressor good things happen.”

Ferguson also had a short route to the championship.

He had a first-round bye and then earned a 17-1 major decision against Kentlake’s Rick Sturza. Ferguson then had an injury-default win against Kamiak’s Mike Salazar in the championship.

Lyman missed CK Matman because of an injury, but returned to win three matches in the invitational. He pinned Ben Ritchie from the Allstars in 2:45 and earned a 9-2 and 6-2 decisions in consecutive matches against Kamiak’s Bryton Reim and Olympia’s Franklin Kline, respectively.

“I didn’t think I wrestled well,” Lyman said. “I won, but I’m not going to face guys like that at state.”

Nass had a different perspective.

“I was so happy for him,” he said. “He’s been knocking on the door of tournaments since last year and it seemed like he never stepped to the top of the podium. It was a nice way to end his final in-season tournament with a championship.”

After wrestling four times in eight days and other 16- and 24-team tournaments earlier in the season, Nass said he liked the setup of the invitational. He said there usually are eight teams that participate, but one school dropped out this year and he wasn’t able to schedule a replacement.

“I don’t want to go through another 16-man bracket tournament because of the chances for injury and the kids are getting tired,” Nass said. “But I don’t want to take a weekend off. It runs really quick and smooth and there’s still great wrestling.”

Saturday

SK Invitational

Team scores: South Kitsap 202.5, Kentlake 180, Kamiak 155.5, Olympia 133.5, Allstars 117, Gig Harbor 101, Evergreen 93, North Kitsap 91.

Championship matches: 103-Jeff Harjehausen (Kent) p. Joel Miner (SK), 5:05; 112-Zach Holland (E) d. Simon Kipperberg (SK), 6-4; 119-Colton Kusilik (K) p. Codey Chapman, 1:35; 125-Adam Ferguson (SK) injury default; 130-Zach Callahan (Kent) d. Kyle Fenton (SK), 17-2; 135-Anthony Jacobson (K) d. Jeff Jones (NK), 22-15; 140-Quincy Lyman (SK) d. Franklin Kline (O), 6-2; 145-Jason Brady (Kent) d. Nate Regan (K), 11-5; 152-Jesse Chunn (GH) d. Paul Coulter (NK), 4-1; 160-Anthony Lindfors (NK) d. Jeff Nodvedt (GH), 4-2; 171-Taylor Johnson (Kent) d. Collin Munoz (K), 16-3; 189-Brad Fedderson (SK) d. Jay Ubben (GH), 9-7; 215-Tyler Nigg (K) p. Drew Parker (E), 1:02; 285-Tom Decker (SK) p. Micah Bagley (E), 1:56.

Friday

At South Kitsap 66, Bellarmine Prep 9

103-Joel Miner (SK) p. Ladenburg, 2:23; 112-Eberle (SK) p. Perez, 4:52; 119-Simon Kipperberg (SK) d. Sibley, 6-5; 125-Adam Ferguson (SK) p. Miller, 3:06; 130-Kyle Fenton (SK) p. A. Soran, 1:39; 135-Kyle Bamonte (SK) p. Giuntoli, 2:32; 140-Quincy Lyman (SK) p. Krendle, 1:35; 145-Brian Padmos (SK) p. Holland, 1:01; 152-Brady Zurn (SK) p. Q. Soran, 0:28; 160-McNeil (BP) d. Deandre Jackson, 13-11; 171-Jon Morris (SK) d. Carlin, 6-4; 189-Brad Fedderson (SK) p. Kebba, 2:50; 215-Matt Foxworthy (SK) p. Bohren, 2:24; Demille (BP) p. Tom Decker, 1:49.