Oak Harbor Wildcats clinch state berth in inaugural season with 23-22 win

Oak Harbor’s varsity girls flag football team clinched a state tournament berth in its inaugural season with a dramatic 23-22 double-overtime victory over Everett at Oak Harbor High School. The win capped a district tournament run that began with a 42-7 victory over Ferndale and included a district-championship loss to Monroe.

The Wildcats beat the Ferndale Golden Eagles 42-7 on Friday to reach the district championship. In that title game, Monroe defeated Oak Harbor by a reported 28-14 margin, and turnovers and incompletions proved costly for Oak Harbor in the matchup. Despite the setback, Oak Harbor rebounded Saturday with a comeback that forced double overtime against the Everett Seagulls and secured the state berth with the one-point win.

Head coach Mike Lonborg noted that Monroe had made important adjustments since the regular-season meeting, when Oak Harbor defeated Monroe 44-14. That regular-season result contrasted sharply with the district-championship outcome, underscoring the rapid tactical shifts teams can make in playoff environments.

The 3A District 1 Tournament was staged at Oak Harbor High School, where bracket results showed Oak Harbor as the No. 1 seed and Everett as No. 3 in the bracket that produced the winner-to-state game. The double-overtime finish, recorded as Oak Harbor 23, Everett 22, was decisive: the bracket listed the winner advancing to state and the loser being eliminated.

The program’s rise has local economic and community implications. A varsity team reaching state in its first year can increase attendance at home contests, lift concession and vendor sales on playoff weekends, and strengthen fundraising patterns for the athletics department. The team’s digital footprint remains nascent; the Oak Harbor girls flag football MaxPreps page shows no entered schedule or player stats, highlighting opportunities for improved recordkeeping and outreach as the program prepares for travel, lodging, and logistical costs that accompany state competition.

Photographers documenting the Wildcats’ playoff run include Wyatt Wlater and Matthew Selsor from the Oak Harbor High School yearbook staff and Allyson Ballard; local photo coverage will help sustain the community narrative around the team’s breakthrough. With state-schedule details to be finalized, Oak Harbor’s program will need to coordinate funding and travel plans, while the accomplishment is likely to boost interest among younger players and supporters across Island County.

What comes next is a stretch of logistical planning and program building: confirming official state-tournament dates and bracket placement, finalizing travel arrangements, and channeling the momentum from a 23-22 double-overtime victory into preparation for higher-level competition. The Wildcats’ rapid ascent also signals to school leaders and sponsors that investment in girls flag football is producing measurable competitive returns.