Prep grapplers reach final meet

CHUGIAK -- Nearly three dozen prep athletes from Colony, Palmer and Wasilla advanced to the 4A state wrestling tournament, which starts today at Chugiak High School.

Twenty grapplers are representing Wasilla in the tourney and of the Warrior nation, senior Jed Wade will garner much of the attention as he goes for his fourth-straight state title.

Wade, who won at 171 as a freshman and sophomore, is looking for his second title in the 189-pound class. If successful, he will become only the third wrestler in state's history to win four titles. Matt Matson of West Valley won four titles in the early 1990s and Chugiak's Gary Steeby accomplished the four-peat in the early 1970s.

Wade is one of four Warriors to win region titles last week and eight to advance to the Region III finals. Heavyweight Jeramiee Meisler, Jake Wade (171) and Duane Carpenter (160) each won region titles and should compete for an individual state crown.

Second-place finisher Alan Bartlelli (103), third-place finisher Chris Odom (135) and fifth-place winner John Olson (215) also have a shot of advancing to the finals for Wasilla.

Nine wrestlers are representing Palmer in the tournament. Sophomore Trevor Pempek is fresh off a Region III title and is the top-ranked grappler in the 145-pound class.

Zach Tomco (135) and Jake Huen (215) are also expected to lead the Moose.

Colony moved five wrestlers into the state meet. Freshman Hollan Gravley, who is still undefeated against Alaskan competition, is the favorite in the 112-pound class. Dustin Killian (119) and Domminick Bellotte (215) are expected to lead the Knights.

Tournament action begins today at 9 a.m. The final rounds are slated for 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Mat-Su Valley 4A state wrestling qualifiers

Region III finish in parenthesis

103: Alan Bartelli- Was (2nd), Ashlee Park- Was (4th); 112: Hollan Gravley- Col (1st), Sam Miller- Was (2nd), Tom Eller- Pal (4th), Danny Lyles- Was (6th); 119: Dustin Killian- Col (2nd), Marshall Carlyle- Pal (5th), Levi Fox- Was (6th); 125: Duane Carpenter- Was (2nd); 130: Ceaser Berrera- Was (5th); 135: Chris Odom- Was (3rd), Zach Tomco-Pal (4th), Armon Pettijohn- Was (5th); 140: Mike Miller- Was (2nd), Jeremy Langford- was (6th); 145: Trevor Pempek- Pal (1st), Mike Trudeau- Was (4th), Casey Bowen- Was (5th); 152: Matt Norton- Col (4th), Mike Knutson- Was (6th); 160: Chuck Carpenter- Was (1st), Kyle Newman- Col (2nd), Roland Warrior- Was (5th); 171: Jake Wade- Was (1st), Steel Tubbs- Pal (4th); 189: Jed Wade- Was (1st), Colby Yuill- Pal (3rd), Lloyd Neiman- Pal (5th); 215: Domminick Bellotte- Col (1st), Jake Huen- Pal (3rd), John Olson- Was (5th); 275: Jeramiee Meisler- Was (1st), Tory Johnson- Pal (6th)