Knights pin NLC wrestling title

During the final two team tournaments of the prep wrestling regular season — the Lancer Smith Memorial and the Grace Grizzly Shakedown — the Soldotna Stars finished ahead of the Colony Knights in the team standings.

But in their home gymnasium, the Knights were the team to finish on top.

Colony used 417 total points to win the boys team title at the Northern Lights Conference Championships Saturday at Colony High School. The Knights took the NLC title back from the Soldotna Stars, who won it all in 2022 and finished second with 390.5 points Saturday.

Matthew Mitchell and Jackson Goss both repeated as individual champions for the Knights. Mitchell quickly pinned his way through the tournament, and was named the NLC Boys Most Outstanding Wrestler. The senior, who improved to 22-1, recorded pins of 35, 36 and 56 seconds in the 135-pound weight class.

Goss repeated as the NLC’s heavyweight champ, outlasting Palmer’s Rueger Mothershead 8-2 in the finals.

Noah Justice and Nolan Gallagher also captured individual crowns for the Knights.

Justice, now 30-5 as a freshman, pinned Soldotna’s Sam Henry in the 103-pound final. Gallagher, a senior, improved to 21-1 by pinning Kodiak’s Kavik Skonberg in the 215-pound final.

Palmer had two individual champions. Ezra Ginn, the No. 2 seed, used an escape in the final seconds to edge top-seeded Luke Roderick of Colony 12-11 in the 160–pound final.

Kaelan Vesel won the all-Palmer final at 189, pinning teammate Carter Paulson in the finals.

Joseph Spangler led Wasilla with a title. Spangler beat Colony’s Ty Hermon 5-2 in the 130-pound final.

The Knights placed 23 grapplers in the top-five of their respective weight class. All will receive an automatic berth to the ASAA Division I state tournament, which starts Dec. 15 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Jake Olson also advanced to the finals and was second at 112 for the Knights. Sean Maeger (103), Tristan Mayer (145), Dominic Binder (152), Brenden Rhodes (160), Willen Erickson (171) and Thomas Weller (189) placed third for the Knights; Haakon Erickson (130), Tegan Olson (140), Laramie Gibson (145) and Jackson Weller (215) were fourth; and Isaiah Shultz (119), Christian Anderson (130), Nicholas Floresta (135), Donovan Crockett (171), Ethan Smith (189) and Isaac Alvardo placed fifth.

Colony mentor Todd Hopkins was named the NLC Coach of the Year.

Palmer finished third in the team standings with 327.5 total points.

Ginn and Vesel were among seven Moose in the finals. Paulson, Mothershead, Kael Salisbury-Gum (125), Cayson Mastberg (135), Cody VanSiegman (145) and Nolan Deemer (152) finished as the runner-up.

Palmer’s Wyatt wilson (112), Luke Henry (125), William Lindsey (140) and Kamryn Woodfork (285) were third; Henry Clark (112) placed fourth; and Johnny Martinez (112) and Luke Sena (215) placed fifth.

Spangler led three Warriors in the finals.

Chase Foss (119) and Thailyn Reynolds (140) advanced and placed second. Britt Bettijohn (103), Achilles Alexander (119), Corbin Lutz (135) and James Lackey (215) finished third; Peyton Wright (125), Max Moat (160) and Noah Benoit (171) were fourth; and Rogelio Alvarez (103), Victor Fonev (140) and Brandt Steiner (145) were fifth.

Colony finished second in the NLC girls tournament, with 183 total points.

Amelia Fawcett continued her undefeated season and was one of three Knights to pin a girls individual title. Fawcett pinned teammate Graycen Miller in the 145-pound final, and improved to 25-0.

Aspen Kelly (153) and Gia Jones (165) also won titles due to injury forfeit.

Palmer’s Sarah Callender led the Moose girls with an individual crown, and was named the NLC Girls Most Outstanding Wrestler. Callender, a junior, was the third seed at 126 pounds. Callender upset second-seeded Brynlee Lutz of Wasilla in the semifinals and top-seeded Braelyn Troxell of Kodiak in the finals.

The top two wrestlers in each weight class advance to the ASAA girls state tourney. Miller, Grace Loutzenhiser (100), Hayden Vanderpool (107), Sophia Ellibee (114) placed second for Colony. Lillie Vansiegman (136), Kaylee Paulson (152) and Noelle Buck (235) were second for Palmer. Taryn Wright (120), Lutz (126) and Olivia Probasco (132) were second for Wasilla.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.