Palmer High set to host NLC wrestling tourney

PALMER — About two-dozen Valley schools opened its doors for the first time since the massive earthquake the rocked the Mat-Su Nov. 30. The list includes Palmer High School. That means prep wrestlers can hit the mats Friday for the Northern Lights Conference Championships.

Palmer High reopened for staff Wednesday and students Thursday. Palmer High School principal Paul Reid said Monday, PHS will be prepared to host the NLC tourney this weekend. The lone difference is teams will not be able to stay overnight at the school, to ensure the staff has enough opportunity in the continued cleanup effort following the earthquake.

It’s a five-team tournament that also features Colony, Wasilla, Soldotna and Kodiak. School district officials announced earlier this week that Wasilla is expected to be open to staff Monday and students Tuesday. As of Frontiersman press time, the district has Colony High’s status as to be determined.

Wednesday evening, Colony head coach Todd Hopkins said the Knights were scheduled to practice as a squad for the first time Thursday, but at a site other than Colony High. Despite not being able to host official practices, Hopkins said he’s confident in his athletes’ ability to work out on their own and prepare for the region tournament.

“They’re ready,” Hopkins said. “They’re preparing.”

Hopkins also commended ASAA, Alaska’s governing body for prep sports.

“ASAA has been really accommodating for special situations wrestling has that most sports don’t,” Hopkins said.

Those accommodations include allowing an addition weigh-in for those who could not compete last weekend because of the earthquake, and allowing each region the ability to set additional eight allowance.

Hopkins said he received confirmation Wednesday that the ASAA state wrestling championships will be at the Alaska Airlines Center Dec. 14-15 as planned.

Redington was slated to host the Kachemak Conference Championships this weekend, but the tournament was moved to Grace Christian School in Anchorage. Mat-Su Borough School District officials listed Redington among the schools expected to be open to staff Monday and students Tuesday.

Contact Frontiersman editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.