Hawk grappler wins state title

NIKISKI — Some wrestlers dread going into overtime, especially in the biggest match of their career. Not Luke Wagner.

The Houston sophomore is always up for the challenge of an extra period. Saturday, Wagner used overtime to score the biggest win of his career.

Wagner edged Mt. Edgecumbe’s Paul Johanson 4-2 in extra time to win the 220-pound title during the ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Wrestling Championships at Nikiski High School.

“I was feeling great in overtime. It’s awesome. I love overtime matches,” Wagner said by cellphone from Nikiski.

Early in overtime, Johanson shot in on Wagner’s legs and Wagner shucked the Mt. Edgecumebe grappler’s head down, spun around and got the takedown and the match-deciding two points.

“You’ve got to give it all you’ve got. It’s the last tournament of the year,” Wagner said.

Wagner, who pinned his way to the 220-pound title at the Denali/Kachemak Conference Championships in Seward last week, capped a perfect season in the state finals and closed his sophomore campaign with a 27-0 mark.

Johanson led early, using a double-leg takedown to take the 2-0 lead. Wagner escaped Johanson’s grasp midway through the period to cut the Mt. Edgecumbe wrestler’s lead in half.

Entering the second period, Wagner chose the top position to try to turn Johanson. Houston head coach Brad Drake said it’s a strategy Wagner has had success with throughout the season.

“Luke really likes the top. He has confidence in his ability,” Drake said. “I let him choose what he needs to do.”

Wagner said it’s a strategy he prefers.

“It lets me have more control of the match than if I’m on the bottom,” Wagner said.

Wagner spent much of the final two periods trying to turn Johanson. With the arm bar move, Wagner nearly turned Johanson multiple times. But each time, Johanson was able to get to the edge of the mat.

“He was really close to turning him,” Drake said. “He would have turned him if he was more in the middle of the ring.”

Johanson was warned for stalling late in the second period, and after a bit of confusion in the third, Johanson was called again for stalling late in the third. That stalling penalty awarded Wagner a point, which tied the score at 2.

The confusion included a conference among the referees, with the coach of each wrestler standing nearby, late in the third period and before the overtime. At one point during the third, a referee called Wagner — who was in the top position trying to turn Johanson — with stalling.

“The referee got the colors confused,” Drake said. “It was the bottom wrestler who was stalling. I protested and he switched the points.”

Wagner became the first Houston grapper since 2005 and the 17th in school history to win a state championship. Daniel Harvey was the last Houston athlete to score a state wrestling championship, winning at 171 in 2005.

Wagner, a top-seeded wrestler who pinned his first three opponents in the state championships, was one of six Hawks in the state tournament. Jake Davis finished fourth at 170 pounds. Davis was 4-2 in the tournament. Both losses came to the same opponent, Mt. Edgecumbe’s Michael Matthew.

Davis scored a first-round pin of Bethel’s Martin Oulton before falling 10-0 to Matthew in the semifinals. Davis rebounded by pinning three straight opponents on the consolation side to earn a spot in the third-place match. Matthew earned a 12-3 major decision over Davis to take third.

Cesear Davila (120), Calen Wilbur (126) and Cody Barber (160) were all 2-2 in the tournament, and each finished a win away from placing in the top 6. Drew Drake was 1-2 at 138.

Houston finished 10th in the team standings.

For Wagner, the sophomore is getting used to life as a state champion.

“It’s sinking in. It’s awesome,” he said.

The championship already has its perks. Wagner said he made a deal with his coaches, Drake and assistant Ryan Cook. They’d let him shave their heads if he won a state title. Wagner said Drake is having second thoughts, but Cook is getting ready for his new look.

ASAA/First National Bank

123A State Wrestling

Championships

Friday-Saturday, Nikiski

Team scores:

1. Bethel 188; 2. Dillingham 151.5; 3. Nikiski 150.5; 4. Valdez 143; 5. Kotzebue 123; 6. Mt. Edgecumbe 116; 7. Sitka 77.5; 8. Skyview 74; 9. Nome 73; 10. Houston 66.5; 11. Craig 61; 12. Seward 55.5; 13. Cordova 42; 14. Homer 42; 15. Wrangell 41; 16. Anchorage Christian 38.5; 17. Unalaska 31; 18. Hutchison 29; 19. New Halen 29; 20. Eielson 28.5; 21. New Stuyahok 28; 22. Glennallen 26; 23. Grace Christian 26; 24. Thorne Bay 19.5; 25. Metlekatla 19; 26. Aniak 16; 27. Barrow 14; 28. Yakutat 14; 29. Galena 12; 30. King Cove 12;

Championship finals:

106 pounds — D. Davis, Sit d. B. Reich, Kotz 6-5; 113 — T. Thain, Craig d. K. Groenveld, Val 3-2; 120 — E. Booshu, Nome d. G. Cabrera, Nome 6-5; 126 — J. Miller, Dill d. D. Williams, Nome 8-3; 132 — W. Patrick, Sit d. S. Hansen, Kotz 4-3; 128 — I. Deaton, Val d. C. Schlagel, Dil 4-1; 145 — M. Kugo, Bet d. T. Anelon, NH 5-3; 152 — K. Spurgeon, Nik d. B. Lieb, Bet 7-3; 160 — T. Chavez, Bet d. C. Green, Nik 8-2; 170 — J. Allen, Val d. M. Adams, Cor 9-4; 182 — L. Johnson, Nik p. S. Johnson, ME 2:35; 195 — T. Tungiung, NS p. T. Hoseth, Dil 11-8; 220 — L. Wagner, Hou d. P. Johanson, ME 4-2; 285 — J. Prince, ME p. T. Robb, Bet 4:53.

Third-place matches:

106 pounds — E. Dyment, Bet p. W. Gilroy, ACS 0:49; 113 — J. Mendenhall, Bet m.d. D. Neely, Nik 10-0; 120 — A. Walsh, Grace d. D. Town, Val 5-1; 126 — J. Wilde, Sew d. C. Gilroy, ACS 8-6 OT; 132 — A. Rake, Val d. S. Janorschke, Sky 4-0; 138 — D. O’Hara, Kotz d. N. Roetman, Kotz 3-1; 145 — M. Ace, Val d. J. Brown, Nik 6-4 OT; 152 — C. Rolf, Dil p. D. Phillips, Kotz 2:48; 160 — A. Minnillo, TB d. M. McGregor, Hom 7-6; 170 — M. Matthew, ME m.d. J. Davis, Hou 12-3; 182 — A. Rodriguez, Sky p. J. Balcom, Craig 1:08; 195 — S. Rininger, Sew inj. Def. B. Chavez, Bet; 220 — J. Braswell, Dill p. K. King, Bet 3:06; 285 — H. Eide, Nik p. J. Alexander, Sky 5:31;

Fifth-place matches:

106 pounds — D. Gardner, Eie p. A. Magalong, Una 1:14; T. Handley, t.f. T. Anagoiak, Sew 23-8; 120 — N. Ezell, Eie d. W. Brand, Craig 8-3; 126 — J. Sumauang, Sit inj. Def. C. Rohrer; 132 — J. Roetman, Kot m.d. K. McIntosh, 14-2; 138 — K. Dingwall, Wra p. D. Wilson, Dill 5:48; 145 — T. Thomassen, Wra d. S. Atkinson, Kotz 6-5; 152 — G. Sample, Gal m.d. R. Martinez, Hutch 9-0; 160 — S. Flensburg, Dill p. M. Kimber, Cor 2:38; 170 — M. Boord, Sit d. D. Miller, Wra 5-3; 182 — M. Wells, Hom m.d. A. Elsberry, Hutch 16-7; 195 — D. Milne, Met p. P. Hamilton, KC 0:33; 220 — S. Finau, Glen p. C. McConnell, Una 2:55; 285 — J. Wilson, Aniak wbf D. Ekis, Yak.