Pair of Hawk grapplers grab region titles

HOUSTON -- At the beginning of the championship round of the Region III Area 2 south wrestling tournament at Houtson High School Saturday, Houston senior Tran Smyth began to pace back and forth across the Houston gym.

As each match began that preceeded Smyth's bout in the 160-pound finals, the Houston senior began to gradually pick up his pace. By the time the 135-pound final had concluded, Smyth had his headgear on and was well on his way to wearing a path in the Houston gym floor.

During the 152-pound finals, Smyth got in his wrestling stance and charged down the south side of the gym. After looking over and seeing the match that directly preceded his was soon to be over, Smyth resembled a bull in a pen, letting out a growl and a snarl.

Once Smyth did finally hit the match, his intensity did not diminish. In the opening seconds of the match the tenacious Smyth charged Levi Russell, his Ninilchik opponent, and scored an early takedown to take the 2-0 lead.

Russell was only able to score an escape in the opening frame.

Facing a 2-1 deficit in the second, Russell attempted to get Smyth in a head and arm, but Smyth was able to slip out of Russell's grasp and get credit of the reversal.

Late in the second period, Smyth scored a reversal that proved to be the pivotal point in the match.

Smyth led 4-2 and Russell put on a move to try to turn the Houston senior and notch near fall points to take the lead. Before Russell was able to turn Smyth, Smyth gained leverage and scored the reversal.

Late in the third period, Smyth was able to turn Russell on his back. Smyth held Russell down for the final moments of the match. Three near fall points led to a 9-3 win.

Smyth was one of three Houston wrestlers in the championship finals.

"Tran is solid," Houston head coach Doug Janneck said. "You never have to worry about Tran not giving it his all. He goes all out and leaves it on the mat."

Houston's Cody Redford upset defending state champion Joey Wicker to win the 135-pound final.

Redford sent Wicker to his back almost immediately in the match. After Redford was charged with an illegal hold, Wicker rode the Houston grappler for the remainder of the first period.

Midway through the second frame, Wicker tried to throw Redford, but Redford was able to deny Wicker the throw and send the Nikiski wrestler to his back.

The near fall points led to Redford's 7-4 win.

George Bjore took second for the Hawks in the 171-pound class. Bjore suffered a 5-2 loss to Grace Christian's Cody Hultquist.

The trio of Hawks in the finals helped lead the Hawks to a second-place finish in the team standings. Houston registered 134.5 points, trailing only Anchorage Christian School who captured the team title with 195 points.

The ACS Lions advanced eight wrestlers to the championship round. Four Lion grapplers won their respective weight class.

The Hawks also advanced seven wrestlers to the consolation finals. Travis Smith (130), Charlie Potter (140), Matt Simpson (189) and Clinton Banzoff (215) placed third for the Hawks, while Carolyn Smyth (119), Mallory Smith (112) and Chris Hanson (171) finished fourth for the Hawks.

Houston will send 10 grapplers to the small school state tournament, held Dec. 13-14 at Homer High School.

"I am happy, we figured we would get nine in and we got 10," Janneck said. "There were six that we thought would get there for sure and about four wild cards. The talent is deffinately there and we have a really good chance to place some guys at state."

Region III Area 2-South Championships Saturday's results from Houston

Team scores

1) ACS 195; 2) Houston 134.5; 3) Grace Christian 132; 4) Nikiski 131; 5) Seward 125; 6) Ninilchik 46; 7) Seldovia 42.

Championship matches

103 pounds — Zack Coots, Sew, d. Jesse Moe, ACS. 112 — Josh Huhndorf, Nik, d. Jacob Masog, ACS. 119 — Judah Allen, ACS, d. Jordan McCaughey, Nik. 125 — Randy Houck, ACS, d. Joe Christensen, Grace. 130 — Cody Dunbar, ACS, d. Justin Tumbaga, Nik. 135 — Cody Redford, Hou, d. Joey Wicker, Nik. 140 — Steven Miller, Nin, d. Coty Beck, Sew. 145 — Cyle Webb, ACS, d. Matt Clarkson, Grace. 152 — Anthony Lorenzo, Nik, d. Corky Jones, Grace. 160 — Tran Smyth, Hou, d. Levi Russell, Nin. 171 — Cody Hultquist, Grace, d. George Bjore, Hou. 189 — Robert Mack, Grace, d. Chance Collier, Sel. 215 — Bobby Dunbar, ACS, d. Doug Jones, Sew. HWT. — Josh Homan, ACS, d. David Rorrison, Nik.

Consolation finals

103 — Lance Penhale, Nik, d. Gerardo Arias, ACS. 112 — Kenny Balfe, Grace, d. Mallory Smyth, Hou. 119 — Ryan Edmunds, Grace, d. Carolyn Smyth, Hou. 125 — Jason Higbee, Sew, d. Grant McGregor, ACS. 130 — Travis Smith, Hou, d. Jake Moe, ACS. 135 — William Scott, ACS, d. Charley Rininger, Sew. 140 — Charlie Potter, Hou, d. Tom Pargeter, Grace. 145 — Josh Boye, Nik, d. Raymond Grimm, Nik. 152 — Kieth Wolfe, Sew, d. Daniel Timmerman, Grace. 160 — Charles Howard, ACS, d. Ryan Gardner, Sew. 171 — Nick Oliveira, Sel, d. Chris Hanson, Hou. 189 — Matt Simpson, Hou, d. Kale Tippit, Sew. 215 — Clinton Banzhaf, Hou, d. Tom Bowdon, Sel. HWT. — Dylan Dwyer, ACS, d. Hans Alderman, Sew.