Mat-Su youth wrestler crowned national champion

A young Valley grappler is a national champion.

Finley McPeck, a sixth-grader at Teeland Middle School and member of the Mat-Su Matmen youth wrestling program, recently won her class during the 2026 USA Wrestling Women’s National Championships earlier this month.

McPeck won the girls 12U class in the Greco-Roman national tourney in the 61.4-pound to 63.8-pound division. She also earned a runner-up finish in the freestyle tourney, placing second in the 12U 64-pound class.

The tournament marked her second trip to nationals and her first national title. McPeck also competed in 2024, and placed fifth in her class in freestyle. There was no Greco-Roman event that year.

McPeck also earned a state title at the Alaska state championships in Fairbanks this season. Last year, Mc Peck notched the Triple Crown, winning Alaska state titles in folkstyle, freestyle and Greco-Roman.

McPeck was also one of four girls on the Mat-Su Matmen squad to earn All-American status at nationals, an achievement guaranteed with a top-eight finish.

Like McPeck, Isabella Graham is an All-American in both Greco-Roman and freestyle. Graham placed fifth in the 12U 78.6 to 86.3-pound class in Greco and seventh in the 12U 81-pound class for freestyle.

Genesis Imke placed fourth in the 14U 165-pound class in freestyle. Blaike Kirby was sixth in the 10U 90-pound freestyle class.

Members of Mid-Valley Wrestling Club and Pioneer Grappling Academy also represented the Valley and earned All-American honors at nationals.

Blayke Goodlin placed second at 12U 94 pounds in freestyle, and second at 12U 89.8 to 94 pounds in Greco-Roman. Graciemay Goodlin was second in 8U 60.4 to 65.3 pounds in Greco-Roman.

Graceimay Goodlin placed third at 8U 62 pounds in freestyle. Selene Baldridge placed fifth in 10U 63.8 to 66.3 pounds in Greco-Roman. Haven Elke was fifth in 8U 48.7 to 52.9 pounds in Greco-Roman. Kayleigh Strausbaugh was sixth at 14U 115 pounds in freestyle. Lyla Barnes placed sixth at 12U 87 pounds in freestyle. Haven Ekle was seventh in 8U 50 pounds in freestyle. Selene Baldridge finished eighth at 10U 67 pounds in freestyle. Lyla Barnes placed eighth at 12U 78.6 to 86.3 pounds in Greco-Roman.

Amelia Fawcett was seventh in the U20 65-pound freestyle division for the Pioneer Grappling Academy.

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