Jed Wade first Warrior inducted into prep Hall of Fame

WASILLA — Jed Wade is one of the Mat-Su Valley’s most decorated wrestlers. Now Wade has another honor to add to his list of accomplishments:

The Alaska High School Hall of Fame.

The 2004 graduate of Wasilla High School was the third wrestler in Alaska history to win four straight high school state titles, and is a two-time high school All-American who went on to compete at the Division I level.

Wade will be among eight individuals in the 2016 class inducted into the hall of fame on Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel in Anchorage.

“I’m super honored to be included in this group,” Wade said Wednesday.

The 30-year-old admitted he was a bit surprised to receive such an honor at this point in his life.

“Certainly in 2016 it’s a surprise. If something like this ever happened, I’d think it’d be later down the road,” Wade said.

But with that said, Wade said he’s excited to be part of such an elite group.

“I think it ranks very high on the list of different things in my athletic career,” Wade said.

Wade — who will be honored in the 2016 class alongside former Juneau-Douglas football and baseball standout Chad Bentz, former East Anchorage football star Casey Flair, former Homer High wrestling standout Ian Pitzman, renowned musician and North Pole graduate Victor Barranco, longtime Unalakleet basketball coach Donald Erickson, school district administrator Dave Dirksen and former Alaska Schools Activities Association executive Gary Matthews — is the first Wasilla High School athlete to be inducted into the hall of fame.

Wade was a multisport standout at WHS. He earned nine varsity letters and was a captain in three different sports. Wade stood out on the football and soccer fields, but the wrestling mat is where he was a star.

With his 2004 state title, Wade became the first Valley athlete and the third Alaska wrestler to win four straight state titles. Since Wade accomplished the feat, only six other Alaska grapplers have notched the four-peat.

Wade had to go through some heavy competition to earn his four-peat. His first state crown came at 171 pounds as a freshman. After bumping up to 189 pounds, Wade won three straight state titles at that class. He posted a 170-11 career record, including a combined mark of 92-1 during his final two seasons at WHS.

Wade also became just the second Alaska wrestler to win his weight class at the prestigious Reno Tournament of Champions, and earned high school All-American honors twice.

Wade is part of a member of one of the Valley’s most noted wrestling families. Along with his three brothers — Jack, James and Jake — the family combined to win nine Alaska state wrestling titles.

Wade’s dedication on the mat was replicated in the classroom, Not only did he earn the chance to wrestle for Division I Columbia University in New York, but earned academic scholarships to attend the Ivy League school.

Since his return to Alaska after college, Wade spent time coaching at Service High School in Anchorage and at his alma mater. Wade currently spends his days working in the business side of medicine for Providence Health and Services in Anchorage. Wade and his brothers also founded and opened Bearpaw River Brewing Company in the Valley in December.

The biggest addition to Wade’s life came earlier this year, when his wife Carly gave birth to their now 2-month-old son, Wyatt.

Wade said he may coach wrestling again in the future.

“It’s a possibility. I’m definitely still very interested and engaged in the sport,” he said. “I’m passionate about helping some of these young guys develop their skills, learn all of the lessons from wrestling I learned.”

Wade said athletics, and wrestling in particular, played a big role in his ability to also have success as a student, and now as a professional.

“I think sports formed a foundation for all of the different kinds of success I’ve been able to have,” Wade said. “I was recruited for wrestling for college. I wouldn’t have ended up at Columbia if I hadn’t been a wrestler.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.