2016 prep wrestling: Coaches across Valley excited about potential

WASILLA — Last season, 30 prep wrestlers representing five different Valley programs placed in the top 6 of their respective weight classes during the 123A and 4A state wrestling seasons. Of those 30 grapplers, 25 are back this season.

That total is just one of the reasons coaches across the Valley are thrilled about the potential of their teams this season. Below is a look at the Valley’s six prep wrestling programs.

Colony Knights

The Colony Knights lead the Mat-Su with eight veterans who placed in state last year. Three of those wrestlers won state titles, and helped the Knights finish second in the team standings.

Levi Hopkins, Robert Haan and Dawson Nash each won a state championship last season. The Knights also welcomed back Sam Sisco, who won a state title two years ago.

“Sam Sisco, Levi Hopkins, Robert Haan and Dawson Nash have looked great,” Colony head coach Todd Hopkins said in an email recently. “It’s awesome having Sam back in the room. He raised the intensity and makes everyone else work harder.”

Overall, Hopkins said the numbers are looking great, and the Knights have about 75 athletes, a total more than last year as the team approaches the midway point of the season. The group includes five others — Rush Fannon (third), Kolby Torres (fifth), Eric Christy (fifth), Caleb Hopkins (second) and Isaiah Christy (fourth) — who placed as state last year.

“Our depth is really strong throughout the entire lineup. We have experienced wrestlers at every weight class,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins said Colony showed its depth and strength en route to its win at the Halloween Duals at South Anchorage earlier this season.

Hopkins also noted veterans Trace Severson, Frank Urbano, Cody Gamble, Brennan Easley and Chayse Eby, in addition to freshmen Vincent Cramer, Lane Booth, Hunter Sasser, Quinten Seryko, Macarius Floresta, Jacob D’Augustino and Coa Gamble.

Wasilla Warriors

Wasilla head coach Shawn Hayes is also excited for his team’s potential for depth and great numbers, but the Warriors are still waiting for the opportunity to bring everyone together.

“We haven’t been able to put the whole team on the mat at the same time,” Hayes said recently.

Hayes said the Warriors have battled everything from sickness to injury, to eligibility, but is hopeful that everything can come together for the team before the region meet.

Overall, a big group of freshmen have given the Warriors are larger roster than it typically boasts. Hayes said the Warriors have 28 freshmen, and more than 80 grapplers in the program. There are 15 seniors on the team.

Wasilla placed eight wrestling in state last season, and seven have returned. The group includes a pair of defending state champions — Micah Mathis and Sam Wolff.

Isaiah Elvsaas (third), Dillon Simpson (sixth), Berit Sturgeon (second), Hayden Steiner (fourth) and Chase Minnick (sixth) also placed at state last season.

Wasilla’s big freshman class includes wrestlers that are making an impact right away, Hayes said. Hunter Hayes is off to an 18-1 start at 120 pounds. Sterling Uhlenhake, another freshman is 13-2.

Hayes also noted Matthew Agoney, Alex Logsdon and Isaac Rodman.

The Warriors also have another newcomer, Ezra Lincecum, who won a 123A state title at Houston last year.

Palmer Moose

Palmer may not be able to boast overall numbers comparable to rivals Colony and Wasilla, but head coach Daniel Graham said he’s excited about the talent he has in the 35 grapplers in the Moose program.

Graham said Palmer’s strength in certain areas could give the Moose an advantage.

“Some of our big competition, a lot of places they are strong, we are not. But where they are not so strong is where a lof our strength is,” Graham said. “We match up pretty well and could do some damage at regions and state.”

Overall, Graham said the Moose are focusing on getting healthy, and staying healthy. Last season, injuries started to pile up as the Moose tried to work through regions and state. Graham said a number of his athletes, who struggled with injuries last season, are even more hungry for success this year.

“This year, there’s an entirely different intensity level with a lot of these guys,” Graham said.

An example is senior Austin Farris, who reached the state finals as a sophomore, but fighting through an injury-plagued season, Farris was forced to settle for fifth in state last year.

“Guys like Austin. They’ve almost tasted the ultimate prize,” Graham said. “These guys have been right on the cusp of getting a high (placement).”

Odin Anderson (fourth), Levi Farris (fourth), Jeff Glynn (sixth) and Christian Kurka (sixth) also placed for the Moose at state last year.

In addition to that group, Graham also noted Julian Davis, Zion Rogers, Lucas Santana and Travis Wheeler.

Houston Hawks

Malaki Barrett and Robert Ritter are among the Hawks leading the Houston program during the 2016 season.

Barrett and Ritter both finished fifth in state last season for a program now led by first-year head coach Rachael Shannon.

Barrett also finished second at the ACS/Lime Solar Invitational at ACS last week.

Redington Huskies

Head coach Abe Salmon and his assistants are continuing to build the second-year wrestling program at Redington.

Last year, the Huskies were able to move two wrestlers — Saige Paris and Jordan Morganflash — into the state tournament. This year, Salmon hopes to see three or four Huskies wrestle at state.

“We are still mostly a (junior varsity) program, with a few kids who are developing into varsity athletes,” Salmon said in an email recently.

Salmon noted Ollie Sevarance and Eli Benson specifically.

“I’d have to say Ollie Severance is the leader of our team,” Salmon said of the 170-pounder. “He has done everything you’d ask of a kid, preseason, some freestyle. He works hard every day and leads by example.”

Overall, Salmon said the numbers are comparable to last year.

“We don’t have the depth, but we do have a decently filled out lineup,” Salmon said.

Susitna Valley Rams

Su Valley may have the smallest squad in the Valley, but boasts one of the top grapplers in the 123A class.

Senior Marshall Pinard is in the hunt for the state title at 285 pounds. Pinard was third as a junior and second as a sophomore.

“Marshall is looking good,” Su Valley head coach Bryan Kirby said in an email recently. “His goal is to be on top of every podium this year, including state, and he has been working hard during practice to get there.”

Pinard is one of only two veterans in the Su Valley program. The other is Cooper Stec, who wrestles at 132 pounds.

“He puts in a lot of effort and also has some potential to make it to state this year,” Kirby said of Stec, a senior.

Kirby also noted Aiden Jolly, a first-year wrestler at 182 pounds.

What’s ahead

The season continues this weekend with another busy weekend.

Colony and Wasilla are both sending varsity squads to the Glenn Vanadergaw Invitational at Dimond High School in Anchorage.

Palmer is also splitting its athletes, sending a team to the Bush Brawl in Kotzebue and another to the Battle of the Interior at Lathrop High School this weekend.

Houston will be at the Peninsula Duals in Nikiski. Colony is also sending a team there. Su Valley is at the Hutchison Meltdown in Fairbanks.

The state’s largest regular season prep wrestling meet is next weekend. Palmer High Schools is hosting the annual Lancer Smith Memorial at the Menard Sports Complex in Wasilla for the first time Nov. 18-19. Palmer High activities director Dale Ewart said he expects the tournament to feature more than 700 junior varsity and varsity athletes from anywhere from 40 to 45 programs across the state.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.