The Lake Washington High wrestling team lost a close conference dual to Mercer Island, 39-31, on Thursday at Lake Washington High School.

The Kangs (3-1 KingCo) won three of the first four matches — a major decision from Elijah Lux at 126 pounds, a pin from 132-pounder Hunter Giffard and a pin from sophomore JR Hentges at 138 pounds — to take a 16-3 lead.

Mercer Island (3-2, 3-4) won seven of the next eight contested matches, including five pins, to win the dual and hand the Kangs their first loss of the dual season.

Senior Bilal Khilfeh was the remaining winner for Lake Washington, taking the 160-pound bout by 9-8 decision over Mercer Island’s Jonah Andrews. Khilfeh won a crucial escape point late in the third period.

Next, Lake Washington is scheduled to take on Interlake and Redmond in a double conference dual on Jan. 27 at Interlake High School in Bellevue.

The KingCo Wrestling Tournament is set for Feb. 4 at Juanita High School.

Juanita 33, Interlake 32

Despite a shorthanded roster, the Rebels won their closest match of the season on Thursday evening at the Juanita Fieldhouse.

Juanita (3-2, 3-3) had lost its last two conference duals, to Remond and Lake Washington.

The Rebels lost a nonconference dual with Inglemoor, 54-24.

Next, Juanita is set to attend the Auburn Mountainview tournament at 10 a.m. on Jan. 14 in Auburn.