Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
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WASILLA — The Houston Hawks finished as the runner-up in the Kachemak Conference team standings last season. As the Hawks prepare to make the trip to Seward for the 2017 conference championships, Houston head coach Danny Moffitt believes his Hawks are right where they need to be.
“(The team) is peaking at the right time,” Moffitt said.
The Hawks had a strong finish to the regular season, placing eight wrestlers and finishing second overall in the team standings, last week at the Glennallen Invitational, and Moffitt likes what he’s seeing on the mat.
“The hard practices this week make me confident the Hawks are right on the track to send numbers to state,” Moffitt said.
The top three wrestlers in each weight class in the Kachemak advance to the Division II state tournament.
Undefeated senior heavyweight Dylan Jackson leads the Hawks into the region tournament. Jackson improved to 22-0 in Glennallen, pinning all five opponents he faced during the round-robin tournament. Jackson was third in regions last year.
The Hawks also have Robert Ritter at 195 and Shawn Graham at 220. Ritter was second and Graham was third in the conference tournament last year. At 138 pounds, Damien Jessup, who finished fourth at regions last year, is also one of Houston’s top grapplers. Moffitt also noted Lane Guim (152), Daniel O’Connor (170) and Justin Gerkie (182).
Leading the way for the Houston girls are Megan German (106) and Jessie Merrick (120).
Redington head coach Abe Salmon said he’s looking forward to seeing his team’s progress in the region tournament this year.
“The cool thing about this year is we’re bringing 20 kids to the tournament instead of like six or eight last year,” Salmon said of the third-year program.
Last year, Eli Benson was the lone Redington to advance to the state tournament. Salmon hopes to see that number rise as well.
“Three to five guys through to state would be a pretty big step for us,” Salmon said.
Redington’s group of potential state-qualifiers also includes James Paris (98), Oliver Severance (182) and Kyler Rumfelt (220.
The Kachemak Conference tournament starts Friday in Seward.
Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com
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