Colony wrestlers off to a solid start

Nov. 17, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

PALMER - The Colony High School wrestling squad is off to a pretty good start.

Colony won the team title at the first tournament of the season, the Lancer Smith Memorial Invitational at Palmer High School, rising to the top, over powerhouses such as South Anchorage and the three-time defending state champion Wasilla Warriors. And since, Colony has cruised to a perfect mark in four dual meets.

Colony head coach Fred McKenney is not ready to pencil his team in as the squad to beat this season, noting that South and Wasilla were missing athletes at the Lancer Smith Memorial, but does acknowledge that he should have a deep squad this year.

McKenney said more than 80 wrestlers hit the mat this year. Those are big numbers for a squad that can only boast five seniors. Colony has about 20 freshmen on the team, and a bulk of talented sophomores and juniors.

Leading the seniors is Hollan Gravley, a three-time defending state champion. Gravley, who will wrestle in the 140-pound class this year, will wrestle at Western State University, a top Division II program in Colorado, next year.

&#8220He gets better every year,” McKenney said. &#8220He's very coachable, absorbs everything I tell him.”

Like Gravley, Cody Dishonn is a senior and defending Northern Lights Conference Champion. Another senior, Justin Martell, finished second at the NLC meet last season.

Also returning are seniors Matt Norton and James Savage. Norton is at 189 right now, and could end up at 171, McKenney said.

Savage did not wrestle as a junior, but could become one of the top heavyweights in the state.

&#8220He should do very well at heavyweight,” McKenney said. &#8220It's hard to tell this early in the season, but James is pretty tough. He's picking up where he left off as a sophomore.”

McKenney noted Colony also has another solid heavyweight in junior Jeff Pritchard. He came on really strong toward the end of last season, McKenney said, and has improved dramatically.

Colony also has a nice corps of talent at the lower weight classes.

Aaron Boss was the runner-up in the 103-pound class in the state tourney last year. Kyle Wilson, Josh West and Zac Beauchamp all placed in the top six in the state tourney last year.

&#8220We're strong all the way through,” McKenney said. &#8220We've got at least one good guy in every weight class. In some weights there are two or three guys.”

Colony started the season with the Lancer Smith Memorial, and hosted Skyview and Kotzebue in dual meets the following week. Today, Colony is competing in the Juneau-Douglas Invitational.

McKenney said he has set up his schedule to rotate duals and tournaments.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.