Huskies earn DII wrestling team title, Valley grapplers crowned champs

Last season, the Redington Huskies stood within reach of a state wrestling title, but ultimately they fell just short. Redington led by six points in the team standings heading into the finals, but Bethel used a strong showing in the final round to edge the Huskies by six.

A year later, the Huskies earned their opportunity to hoist the championship trophy.

Redington used 172.5 total points in the team standings to win the Division II team title during the ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships Dec. 17 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

“It feels really good, especially after last year,” Redington head coach Abe Salmon said during the awards ceremony. “We thought it would be close. Luckily the kids came ready to go.”

The Huskies finished about 60 points ahead of runner-up Kenai Central in the team standings.

“We’ve been working hard. I feel great about our team,” Redington junior Myles Campbell said.

Campbell was one of a pair of state champions for the Redington boys, and three for the program. In a battle of defending state champs, Campbell pinned Bethel’s Paul Dyment 1 minute and 4 seconds into the first period. Campbell finished his season 33-3.

Campbell was also named the Division II Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Sophomore Thomas Swalling won the title at 145, pinning Anna Tobeluk Memorial School’s Garrett Nicholai at the 4:19 mark. Swalling was 33-6 this season.

Campbell’s sister, Mya, also won a state title in the girls tournament. Mya Campbell edged Lathrop’s Alysa Stigall 7-6 in the 120-pound class. Campbell finished her season 21-1.

The Huskies had a fourth in the finals, Wyatt Milnes, who was second at 171. Redington placed 10 in the top six. Caleb Metcalf (112) and Payton Metcalf (125) were fourth; Aidan LaSelle (135) and Richard Bernal (285) placed fifth; and Graham Granger (285) was sixth.

Salmon was named the Division II Head Coach of the Year and Redington’s Nick Daugherty was the DII Assistant Coach of the Year.

Five Valley wrestlers were crowned champs in the Division I boys final.

Colony senior Elijah Larsen was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Division I tournament after winning his second state championship. Larsen pinned South Anchorage’s Aaron Concepcion at the 3:15 mark. Larsen finished his season 35-0.

Larsen’s teammate, Asher Clayton, also notched an undefeated season with a state championship. Clayton pinned Wasilla’s Joseph Spangler at the 5-minute mark in the 199-pound final. Clayton was 37-0 this season.

Wasilla had two state champions. Senior Deshawn Campbell used overtime to edge Lathrop’s Aaron Johnson 7-6 in the 160-pound final. Campbell was also undefeated, finishing 32-0.

Wasilla senior Elijah Allen beat East Anchorage’s Max Francisco 4-2 in the 103-pound final.

Cody Vanseigman earned a state title for Palmer, pinning South Anchorage’s Blake Foster in the 140-pound class. Vanseigman was 42-7 this year.

Spangler, Palmer’s Kael Salisbury (112) and Colony’s Matthew Mitchell (130) also wrestled in the finals and placed second.

Wasilla led Valley teams in the Division I standings, finishing fourth with 176 total points. The Warriors were just ahead of fifth-place Colony (174 points), and Palmer (106) was sixth.

Ten other Valley wrestlers placed in the top six. Wasilla’s Achilles Alexander (103) and Chase Foss (112); Colony’s Nolan Gallagher (215) and Jackson Goss (285) placed fourth; Colony’s Evan Holmes (125), Palmer’s Carter Paulson; and Wasilla’s Izak Punturo (152), Pedro Camacho (160) and James Lacksy (215) were fifth.

Mya Campbell was among nine Valley athletes to place in the girls tournament. Colony’s Grace Loutzenhiser (100) and Bayleigh Harrington (126) advanced to the finals and placed second. Redington’s Mya Rhodes Hunison (185), and Palmer’s Lillie Vansiegman (126) and Nena Trout (138) placed third; Palmer’s Noelle Buck (235) and Colony’s Gia Jones (185) were fourth; and Palmer’s Ally Hrncir (152) and Wasilla’s Kaelynn Seidl finished fifth.

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