Hawks finish 3rd in 123A state wrestling tourney

ANCHORAGE — Houston head coach Brian Cook had a hunch, with a strong weekend of wrestling, the Hawks could earn a top-3 finish in the state tournament team standings.

Saturday, the Hawks capped a terrific 2014 season by achieving that goal. Houston, which won its first conference team title in school history last weekend, finished with 132.5 total points to place third in the team standings of the ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Wrestling Championships at Bartlett High School.

"My goal has always been top 3," Cook said prior to the state tournament.

Houston used a state finalist and seven state placers to earn the third-place finish in the team standings. Senior Jacob McAnulty led the Hawks with an appearance in the state finals and runner-up finish.

Junior Kendel Beasley was third at 220 pounds. Junior Kavan Weinberger (106 pounds), senior Aaron Drake (126) and senior Arrin Paul (170) each finished fourth.

Junior Sean Lang (195) and senior Kyle Quincy (220) were both fifth in their respective weight classes for Houston.

McAnulty, wrestling at 113 pounds, reached the state championship finals for the first time in his career. The senior pinned his first two opponents (Tyler Andrews of New Stuyahok and Ian Jenson of Wrangell). In the semifinals, the third-seeded McAnulty used a 5-3 victory to upset the No. 2 seed, Buddy Stalmach of Petersburg.

In the finals, McAnulty suffered a 7-3 loss to Gavin Maslen of Kotzebue. Maslen earned his second state title with the win.

McAnulty finished his senior season 28-7.

Susitna Valley also had a wrestler in the finals. Heavyweight Marshall Pinard finished second.

ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Wrestling Championships

Friday-Saturday, Bartlett High School

Team scores (top 25):

1. Kotzebue 224.5; 2. Bethel 190; 3. Houston 132.5; 4. Nikiski 121.5; 5. Dillingham 119.5; 6. Nome 84.5; 7. Wrangel 71; 8. Homer 69; 9. Craig 48; 10. New Stuyahok 42; 11. Valdez 41; 12. ACS 40.5; 13. Mt. Edgecumbe 36; 14. Petersburg 35.5; 15. Sitka 35; 16. Hoonah 34; 17. Thorne Bay 33; 18. Holy Rosary 26; 19. Susitna Valley 24; 20. Glennallen 23.5; 21. Barrow 21; 22. Metlaktla 17; 23. Grace 16; 23. (tie) Hydaburg 16; 25. Voznesenka 15.

Championship finals:

98 pounds — T. Dyment, Bet d. C. Bartlett, Sit 6-4; 106 — T. Evan, Bet d. S. Tavares, Ket 11-4; 113 — G. Maslen, Kot d. J. McAnulty, Hou 7-3; 120 — G. Hoffman, Bet d. T. Cox, Nik 3-1 OT; 126 — K. Savo, Dil d. B. Evans, Bet 7-4; 132 — M. Lucas, HR d. C. Greene, Val 8-2; 138 — M. Martin, Ket d. L. Erikson, Nome 6-3; 145 — E. Booshu, Nome d. G. Eakin, Kot 11-4; 152 — S. Woods, Kot d. T. Handley, Nik 4-1; 160 — N. Carstens, Nik d. T. BcBurnette, Ket 9-8; 170 — Z. Haviland, Kot p. L. Jensen, TB 5:21; 182 — J. Roetman, Kot p. O. Hoogendom, Nome 1:11; 195 — N. Fousel, Ket d. D. Nanouk, Kot 9-3; 220 — L. Johnson, Nik m.d. S. Hyatt, Kot 9-1; 285 — P. Johanson, ME p. M. Pinard, SV 3:07.

Third-place:

98 — O. Heller, Wra p. M. Hunter, Bet 4:34; 106 — J. Virgin, Glen m.d. K. Weinberger, Hou 9-0; 113 — B. Stalmach, Pet d. I. Jenson, Wra 8-5; 120 —S. LeMay, ACS d. J. Brant, Hom 5-0; 126 — M. Budke, Hoo p. A. Drake, Hou 2:41; A. Olsen, Bet d. C. Sieh, Kot 3-1 OT; T. Woo, Hom d. S. Williams, Nap 7-2; 145 — H. Boyer, ™ d. G. Kalugin, Voz 5-1; 152 — W. Patten, Crai d. W. Ware, Pet 8-5 OT; 160 — C. Schlagel, Dil d. T. Cook, Hom 5-3; 170 — P. Francisco, Bet m.d. A. Paul, Hou 14-2; 182 — J. Rooney, Wra m.d. C. Weldon, JD 9-0; 195 — C. Nay, Dil won by fft J. McCormick, Nik; 220 — K. Beasley, Hou d. T. Mila, Bar 5-3 OT; 285 — R. Johnson, ™ d. T. Scott, ACS 5-1.

Fifth-place:

98 — J. Gumlickpuck, NS p. B. Blunka 1:36; 106 —T. Savo, Dil d. T. Chaney, Dil 7-6; 113 — E. Paniptchuk, Sha m.d. D. Miller, Dil 8-0; 120 — S. Andrew, Bet d. K. Burkardt, Dil 6-2; 126 — Z. Eakin, Kot m.d. J. Apfelbeck, Gal 12-1; 132 — J. Rios, Hom m.d. K. Spencer, Ket 15-1; 138 — T. Tripple, TB won by fft C. Smith, Val; 145 — G. Sorenson, Gra d. Z. Durr, Hai 7-2; 152 — C. Hansen, Val m.d. T. Henning, Una 11-2; 160 — W. Peele, Hyd m.d. G. Nelson, Kot 14-6; 170 — T. Thain, Cra d. T. Skaflestad, Hoo 6-4; 182 — C. Howard, Cor t.f. W. Kaleak, NS 17-1; 195 — S. Lang, Hou won by fft S. Greene, PS; 220 — K. Quincy, Hou p. R. Williams, Ket 2:49; 285 — B. Blandov, Met d. J. Roehl, Hut 9-3.