Valley grapplers crowned state champions

ANCHORAGE — Colony juniors Robert Haan and Dawson Nash have grown up together on and off the mat. They’ve known each other since elementary school, and their families live on the same street outside Palmer.

Saturday Haan and Nash celebrated together.

Haan and Nash each won their first state title in consecutive matches during the final round of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Championships at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

“It’s really, really cool. I don’t know of that many people who live in the same neighborhood who win state titles,” Haan said after the final round. “It’s a really cool experience. I’ve been wrestling with him a long time.”

Haan was the first to win gold, beating Chugiak’s Brandon Lowe 3-1 in the 170-pound match. Nash followed with a third-round pin of West Valley’s Michael Boner in the 182-pound final.

“It’s like there’s something in our neighborhood water,” Nash joked after his win.

Haan, Nash and Colony freshman Levi Hopkins each won titles to help Colony, last season’s state champ, finish second overall in the team standings with 224.5 points, one ahead of third-place Lathrop. South Anchorage won the team title with 254 points.

Hopkins earned an exciting win over South’s Scott Harris in the 120-pound final. Hopkins and Harris ended regulation tied at 4, but Hopkins used near-fall points during the first 30-second period of the ultimate tiebreaker to score an 8-4 win over Harris.

Sophomore Caleb Hopkins also advanced to the finals for Colony, and placed second at 138.

Caleb Hopkins wrestled in the lone all-Valley match of the 4A finals. Wasilla junior Samuel Wolff, edged Hopkins 4-2 in the 138-pound final. Wolff and Hopkins were locked in a scoreless tie after the first period, but Wolff used a takedown early in the second to take the 2-0 lead. Wolff stretched his lead to 3-0 with an escape during the opening seconds of the third period, and held on for the slim victory.

It’s the second straight week the rivals have met in the finals. Wolff edged Hopkins in overtime last week to win a Northern Lights Conference title.

Wolff was one of three wrestlers in the finals for the Warriors, who finished fourth in the team standings with 141.5 points.

Sophomore Micah Mathis earned the second state title of his career, with a convincing 14-3 win by major decision of Lathrop’s Tyriq Jones. The win also avenged Mathis’ lone loss of the season. Jones beat Mathis early in the 2015 campaign. Mathis said that loss has fueled his desire throughout the season.

“I’ve been practicing. Everything I’ve done has been for this moment,” Mathis said. “I finally accomplished that.”

Mathis said Saturday’s match was much different than the first time he met the Lathrop senior.

“Completely different. Last time I don’t even think I got a shot on him,” Mathis said.

Berit Sturgeon also advanced to the finals for Wasilla, and finished second at 132, suffering a 10-9 loss to South Anchorage senior Greg Shack. Sturgeon was within reach of becoming the first wrestler of the season to knock off the undefeated Wolverine, but Shack was awarded an escape with 17 seconds left in regulation to move ahead 10-9.

Palmer placed in a sixth-place tie with Ketchikan in the team standings with 97.5 points. The Moose placed six wrestlers in the top-6. Odin Andersen (98), Wyatt McGann (138) and Levi Farris (145) each finished fourth for Palmer.

Colony finished with 10 wrestlers in the top six of their respective weight classes, and Wasilla placed eight in the top 6.

Hawk earns title

Ezra Lincecum didn’t like the way his 2014 season ended. That stuck with the Houston junior, and Saturday Lincecum found a much better way to cap a campaign.

By winning a state title.

Lincecum scored a 10-9 win over Glennallan senior Jody Rhodes to win the 220-pound title during the ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Championships at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

“I didn’t like the feeling,” Lincecum said of last year. “I just wanted to come back and bounce back. My coaches have been pushing me, my family and friends have been pushing me, my teammates have been pushing me. All I can say, it’s amazing.”

Lincecum was one of a pair of Hawks represented in the finals. Teeana Nichoali finished second in the girls’ 132-pound class.

Led by Lincecum, Houston finished sixth in the team standings with 87 total points. The Hawks finished with six wrestlers placing.

Junior Marshall Pinard led Susitna Valley with a third-place finish in the 285-pound bracket.

State wrestling tournaments

Friday, Saturday

at Chugiak, Bartlett

Class 4A

Team scores: 1. South, 254; 2. Colony, 224.5; 3. Lathrop, 223.5; 4. Wasilla, 141.5; 5. North Pole, 102; 6 (tie). Ketchikan, Palmer 97.5; 8. Soldotna, 93; 9. Chugiak, 86; 10. East, 75.5; 11. Service, 68; 12. West Valley, 64; 13. Eagle River, 53; 14. Dimond, 46; 15. Kodiak, 45; 16. Kenai, 42; 17. Bartlett, 34.5; 18. Thunder Mountain, 30.5; 19. Juneau, 24; 20. West, 23.

Championship matches

98 — Ee, Lat, dec. Mcalpin, Sou, 9-2; 106 — Spencer, Lat, dec. Martin, Sou, 5-4; 113 — Mathis, Was, m.d. Jones, Lat, 14-3; 120 — Hopkins, Col, TB-1 Harris, Sou, 8-4; 126 — Hutchison, Sol, p. Bockert, Lat, 1:37; 132 — Shack, Sou, dec. Sturgeon, Was, 10-9; 138 — Wolff, Was, dec. Hopkins, Col, 4-2; 145 — Rogers, NP, dec. Ottum, Sou, 7-3; 152 — Amico, ER, m.d. Schumaker, NP, 16-8; 160 — Pellumbi, Sou, won by injury default over Budke, Chu; 170 — Haan, Col, dec. Lowe, Chu, 3-1; 182 — Nash, Col, p. Bonar, WV, 5:18; 195 — Fousel, Ket, dec. Weldon, Jun, 15-6; 220 — Miller, Lat, dec. Johnston, Chu, 11-6; 285 — Best, Sol, dec. Pili, Dim, 7-3.

Third-place matches

98 — Fannon, Col, p. Andersen, Pal, 2:03; 106 — G. Hutchison, Sol, dec. Linne, Ket, 10-6; 113 — Ott, Lat, dec. Lincoln, Sou, 8-5; 120 — Shack, Sou, dec. Todd, Eas, 4-1; 126 — Elvsaas, Was, dec. Walton, Kod, 5-1; 132 — Powell, Eas, dec. Steiner, Was, 5-1; 138 — Martin, Sou, won by forfeit over McGann, Pal; 145 — Booth, Col, m.d. Farris, Pal, 12-3; 152 — Boyer, TM, m.d. Todd, Eas, 16-2; 160 — Tolver, Lat, dec. Pace, Bar, 5-4; 170 — Nero, Col, TB-1 Antesberger, NP, 2-1; 182 — Dickinson, Lat, dec. Herrera, Ser, 3-2; 195 — Correa-Medina, Sou, SV-1 Gold, Eas, 3-1; 220 — Phelps, Ser, p. Christy, Col, 4:12; 285 — Koziczkowski, Ken, p. Foshee, WV, 1:55.

Fifth-place matches

98 — Stewart, Ket, dec. Norman, TM, 5-0; 106 — Gonzalez, Kod, dec. Briones, Wes, 3-1; 113 — Torres, Col, dec. Tenebro, Ket, 9-6; 120 — Tavares, Ket, m.d. Faulkner, Ser, 8-0; 126 — Divelbiss, Dim, dec. Simpson, Was, 7-3; 132 — Christy, Col, m.d. Music, NP, 10-1; 138 — Larionoff, Kod, m.d. Mueller, Lat, 8-0; 145 — Metcalf, Sol, dec. Story, Lat, 3-1; 152 — Mcenerny, Ken, won by injury default over Glynn, Pal; 160 — Ditzler, Chu, dec. Kurka, Pal, 6-4; 170 — Antesberger, NP, dec. Fricilone, WV, 6-2; 182 — King, Eas, won by forfeit over Wilson, Was; 195 — Farris, Pal, dec. Caldarera, Ser, 8-6; 220 — Wright, Sou, won by DQ over Minnick, Was; 285 — Jeong, Lat, m.d. Speziale, Bar, 16-3.

Class 1-2-3A

Team scores: 1. Homer, 212; 2. Bethel, 168; 3. Kotzebue, 138.5; 4. Nikiski, 108.5; 5. Glennallen, 95; 6. Houston, 87; 7. Sitka, 80.5; 8. Nome, 70.5; 9. Grace, 66.5; 10. Wrangell, 64.5; 11. Barrow, 61; 12. Craig, 60; 13. Mt. Edgecumbe, 57; 14. Dillingham, 56; 15. Eielson, 55; 16. Metlakatla, 50; 17. New Stuyahok, 44.5; 18. Unalaska, 34; 19. Seward, Galena 29; 21. Aniak, 28; 22. Petersburg, 27; 23. ACS, Valdez, 24; 25. Hutchison, 21; 26. Haines, Holy Rosary, Su-Valley, 20; 29. Thorne Bay, 16; 30. Bristol Bay, 15; 31. Voznesenka, 14; 32. Hydaburg, 13; 32. Quinhagak, 13; 34. Hoonah, 12; 35. Shaktoolik, 10; 36. Cordova, Kuskokwim, Monroe Catholic, 7; 39. Redington Sr., 4; 40. Scammon Bay, 3.

Championship matches

98 — Dymet, Bet, dec. Newman, Hom, 10-9; 106 — Bartlett, Sit, dec. Blunka Jr., NS, 6-4; 113 — Evan, Bet, p. Gagner, Sit, 2:32; 120 — Cox, Nik, dec. Maslen, Kot, 6-5; 126 — Hoffman, Bet, dec. LeMay, ACS, 6-4; 132 — Olsen, Bet, SV-1 Brant, Hom, 4-2; 138 — Bockman, Gra, dec. Greene, Val, 5-2; 145 — Erikson, Nom, dec. Lucas, HR, 9-3; 152 — Woo, Hom, dec. Patten, Cra, 11-7; 160 — Horner, Nom, dec. Eakin, Kot, 4-1; 170 — Woods, Kot, dec. Carstens, Nik, 5-2; 182 — White, Gle, dec. Armstrong, Wra, 11-6; 195 — King, Hom, won by forfeit over Leisholmn, Met; 220 — Lincecum, Hou, dec. Rhodes, Gle, 10-9; 285 ¬— Johnson, Nik, dec. Mila, Bar, 12-5.

Third-place matches

98 — Barratt, WR, p. Phelps, BB, 2:36; 106 — Gust, NS, p. Hoffman, Bet, 1:58; 113 — St. Andre, Eie, dec. Savo, Dill, 6-3; 120 — Fasulo, Hom, dec. Virgin, Gle, 6-2; 126 — Stone, Eie, dec. House, Hou, 6-1; 132 — Dunlap, Eie, dec. Sleh, Kot, 4-2; 138 — Miller-Hickerson, Kot, p. Roberts, ME, 1:31; 145 — Kinney, Hou, m.d. Sumauang, Sit, 12-1; 152 — Gerlach, Gle, dec. Durr, Hai, 7-0; 160 — Croft, Hom, p. Tripple, TB, 4:00; 170 — Cook, Hom, dec. Henning, Una, 7-0; 182 — Wells, Hom, dec. Pekar, Bet, 6-4; 195 — Goeden, Sit, p. Tui’fua, Bar, 4-2; 220 — Atos, Bar, p. Lliaban, ME, 4:51; 285 — Pinard, SuV, p. Blandov, Met, 2:47.

Fifth-place matches

98 — Kusnetsov, Voz, p. Evatt, NB, 3:00; 106 — Allain, Bet, t.f. Turner, Hutc, 5:00; 113 — DeBilt, Quin, p. Smith, Bet, 0:27; 120 — Stelmach, PE, dec. Paniptchuk, SK, 7-6; 126 — Bucaneg, Unak, s.v. Pearche, Huth, 5-3; 132 — Budke, HN, dec. Marker, CR, 7-1; 138 — Gardiner, Dill, dec. Martin, Gra, 10-7; 145 — Rios, Hom, dec. Eakin, Kot, 6-5; 152 — Ward, Aniak, dec. Dunaway, Dill, 3-1; 160 — Young, Gra, dec. Martin, Gra, 5-1; 170 — Peele, Hyd, won by injury default over Freitas, ME; 182 — Ritter, Hou, dec. Edenshaw, Kot, 4-2; 195 — Barrett, Hou, dec. Clark, Mon, 8-3; 220 — Wilson, Aniak, p. Mann, Hom, 1:00; 285 — Sam, Gal, p. Schutter, Sew, 2:18.

Girls

Grand champ matches

106 — Fowlkes, NP, dec. Martin, Hom, 5-1; 113 — Christopher, NS, won by injury default over Fabricante, Kod; 120 — Sheldon, Kot, dec. Eakin, Kot, 15-8; 132 — O’Brien, Bet, dec. Nicholai, Hou, 8-2; 145 — Cook, Hom, dec. O’Brien, Bet, 7-2; 160 — Kimber, ME, m.d. Suemai, Nom, 12-1; 182 — Andrews, ME, m.d. Hingsbergen, Sel, 16-6; 220 — Magnuson, ME, p. Harrington, Hom, 3:45.

Grand qualifying matches

106 — Fowlkes, NP, p. Warner, Was, 1:46; 113 — Christopher, NS, p. Castillo, ME, 1:31; 120 — Eakin, Kot, p. Sampson, 1:49; 132 — Nicholai, Hou, won by injury default over Akerelrea, ME; 145 — Cook, Hom, p. Peacock, Kot, 5:39; 160 — Suemai, Nom, p. Rio, Hom, 0:41; 182 — Andrews, ME, dec. Wuya, Bet, 6-4; 220 — Harrington, Hom, p. Foxglove, Buck, 1:48.

Third-place matches (to determine who makes top-three Grand wrestle-off)

106 — Warner, Was, dec. Chavez, Ken, 5-0; 113 — Castillo, ME, m.d. Moseley, Hom, 12-4; 120 — Sampson, WLK, p. Newtun, Yak, 2:06; 132 — Akerelrea, ME, dec. Knott, NP, 13-7; 145 — Cook, Hom, p. Hanshaw, Ser, 4:54; 160 — Rios, Hom, p. Ramoth, WLK, 2:15; 182 — Andrews, ME, p. Moore, SK, 3:17; 220 — Harrington, Hom, dec. Pleasant, Bet, 1-0.