Houston senior makes school history; junior wins top honor at state meet

ANCHORAGE — As Houston senior Luke Wagner and junior Aaron Drake stepped onto the mat Saturday evening, each faced their own share of adversity.

Wagner, a two-time defending state champion, was still feeling the effects of a collarbone injury that sidelined him for more than a month. Drake prepared himself for a bout with a defending state champion.

But neither Houston grappler would be denied state gold.

Wagner and Drake each pinned their opponent to win individual state titles during the final round of the ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Wrestling Championships at Anchorage Christian.

Wagner pinned Dillingham’s Thomas Hoseth 35 seconds into the second period to become the first wrestler in Houston High School history to win three state titles.

“I’m going out happy,” Wagner said of capping a stellar Houston career with three consecutive state crowns.

Wagner, who has owned the 123A 220-pound weight class for the last three seasons, pinned his way to his third straight state title. His first two matches of the tournament didn’t see the third period, and he scored second-period pins in both the semifinals and finals.

“It was typical Luke fashion,” Houston head coach Brian Cook said.

Wagner also became the seventh wrestler from the Mat-Su Valley to win three state wrestling titles despite missing more than a month of his senior season. Earlier this year during a team practice, Wagner said he suffered a cracked collarbone and tore muscles in his neck and back.

“I threw one of my teammates and landed on it weird,” Wagner said.

Even though he missed most of the regular season, Wagner said he was confident he’d be ready to wrestle in the conference championships. In November, the Houston coaches gave Wagner a chance to test the shoulder during the Lancer Smith Duals at Palmer High School.

“I wrestled one match. It was hurting pretty good after,” Wagner said. “I wanted to let it heal more and hopefully be back for regions and state.”

Before the Kachemack Conference Championships, Cook said doctors cleared Wagner to wrestle.

“It was painful, but we weren’t able to hurt it any more,” Cook said.

Watching Wagner battle back from injury was impressive, the coach said.

“It shows his toughness, and it was his mental toughness I was impressed with,” Cook said.

Cook was also very impressed with Drake, who pinned Kotzebue’s Brettlyn Reich, a defending state champion, at the 5:13 mark of the match.

“Man, I am so impressed with him, so proud of him,” Cook said of Drake, who was also named the meet’s most outstanding wrestler after the tournament. “It’s a testament to how hard he’s worked throughout the year.”

Reich, the top seed at 120 and a four-time state placer in his high school career, pinned Drake in the two prior meetings between the grapplers. Drake said that as soon as he hit the mat, he gave everything he had.

“Definitely nothing to lose, everything to gain,” Drake said.

Boosted by the confidence of an early takedown, Drake led Reich 6-3 during the final minute of the third period. With about 50 seconds left in the third, Drake pulled Reich’s shoulders to the mat.

“I could tell in the first five seconds when Aaron took (Reich) down, that Aaron was out to win that match,” Cook said.

Wagner and Drake were among three Hawks to advance to the finals. Senior Ryan Radmer advanced to the finals at 152 pounds, but suffered a 4-3 loss to Luther Jensen of Thorne Bay. Cook said Radmer should also be proud of his trip to the finals.

“It showed all the hard work and the drive to get to the finals,” Cook said of Radmer, who did not place in state as a junior. “Unfortunately, the match did not pan out for Ryan, but he could walk off the mat with his head held high.”

Houston qualified nine wrestlers for the state tournament, which tied a program record. Of those nine, three advanced to the state finals and five placed in the top 6. Walker Stephens was fourth at 220 and Sean Lang finished sixth at 182.

“I’m super proud about the way they wrestled. We peaked at the right time,” Cook said.

ASAA/First National Bank 123A State Wrestling Championships

Friday-Saturday, Anchorage Christian School

Championship finals:

98 pounds — G. Maslen, Glen p. T. Evan, Bet p. 1:22; 106 — A. Craig, Sky d. T. Hensley, Bet 5-0; 113 — S. Hutchison, Sky d. G. Hoffman, Bet 3-0; 120 — A. Drake, Hou p. B. Reich, Kot 5:13; 126 — L. Erikson, Nome p. E. Budke, Hoo 4:34; 132 — N. Ezell, Eie p. J. Mendenhall, Bet 2:41; 138 — E. Booshu, Nom p. A. Coplin, Bet 1:18; 145 — G. Eakin, Kot d. B. Allen, Val 10-3; 152 — L. Jenson, TB d. R. Radmer, Hou 4-3; 160 — I. Deaton, Val p. T. Thain, Cra 1:18; 170 — A. Rake, Val p. T. Skaflestad, Hoo 1:35; 182 — J. Roetman, Kot p. C. Howard, Cor 3:00; 195 — L. Johnson, Nik p. S. Carpenter, Bet 0:46; 220 — L. Wagner, Hou p. T. Hoseth, Dill 2:35; 285 — P. Johanson, ME p. H. Hubbard, Sew 0:36.

Third-place match:

98 — J. Virgin, Glen t.f. B. Stalmach, Pet 15-0; 106 — A. Gray, Nome p. D. Toyomara, Pet 1:44; 114 — C. Johnson, Hom t.f. R. Marquez, Una 20-4; 120 — T. Annogiuk, Sew d. A. Chiklak, Bet 6-5; 126 — C. McIntyre, Bet d. C. Greene, Val 6-1; 132 — A. Olsen, Bet p. M. Gardiner, Dill 2:43; 138 — K. McIntosh, Val p. S. Woods, Kot 4:00; 145 — J. Sumuang, Sit p. J. Horner, Nom 5:39; 152 — A. Downing, Val d. K. Johnson, Kot 12-6; 160 — D. Phillips, Kot d. J. Erikson, Nom 6-5; 170 — P. Francisco, Bet p. A. Mahan, Sky 3:41; 182 — D. Magnusen, Una p. J. White, Glen 3:18; 195 — O. Hoogendorn, Hom d. S. Hill, Sky 3-2; 220 — S. Hyatt, Kot d. W. Stephens, Hou 12-10; 285 — T. Alexander, Met p. T. Scott, ACS 2:50.

Fifth-place match:

98 — E. Paniptchuk, Sha d. D. Creed, ME 12-5; J. Brant, Hom m.d. J. Nelson, Bar 11-1; 113 ¬— A. LeMay, ACS m.d. M. Jackson, ME 12-0; 120 — R. Winter, Sky d. C. Sieh, Kot 6-4; 126 — G. Valiquette, Sky m.d. W. Gilroy, ACS 11-2; 132 — J. Williams, Nap d. T. Woo, Hom 11-10; 138 — W. Patten, Cra d. J. Brooks, Pet 8-3; 145 — B. Blumentritt, Sky p. B. Martinsen, Pet 2:27; 152 — P. Ochoa, Hom won by inj def M. Stangel, Nik; 160 — J. Hamberger, Cor d. K. McIntosh, Val 604; 170 — J. Rooney, WH won by inj def B. Nicholson, ACS; 182 — G. Austin, Nom t.f. S. Lang, Hou 16-0; 195 — J. Russell, Ani m.d. S. Green, PS 8-0; 220 — J. Reynolds, p. C. Goodson, Eie 3:06; 285 — W. Reeves, Bar p. M. Pinard, SV 1:15.