Prep wrestling: Houston senior wins conference title

HOUSTON — Houston senior Justin Crowley earned an individual title during the Mid-Alaska Conference Championships wrestling tournament in Fairbanks on Saturday and is one of three Hawks who advanced to the ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships.

Crowley, Aaron Richardson and Arron Reese will also represent Houston at the state championships, which is slated to start Friday at Chugiak High School.

“That’s kind of what I expected, but I was hoping we’d get a few more,” Houston head coach Brad Drake said of the number of Hawks who earned spots in the state tourney.

The top three grapplers in each weight class of the Mid-Alaska Conference advance to the state tourney.

“We had a lot of fourths,” Drake said. “We knew they had to wrestle at the top of their game. They wrestled good, but most of those kids were in pretty tough matches.”

Bria Shell (103), Drew Drake (112), Jenea Shannon (125), Garrett Elder (145), Jaime Kaalakea (160) and Brogan Putnam (189) all finished fourth, just one win shy of the state tourney.

Crowley earned his region title by pinning North Pole’s Jordan Sawyer in the 215-pound final.

“We did expect Justin (to win a region title),” Drake said. “He’s been getting firsts all year.”

Drake said Crowley could be seeded as high as third in the state tourney and has a good chance of scoring a top finish at the meet.

“Justin is capable,” Drake said. “He’s motivated and he works hard.”

Richardson punched his state tourney ticket with a third-period pin of North Pole’s Dalton Barrie in the 130-pound consolation final.

Reese scored a 16-7 major decision over Lathrop’s Kelly Williams in the 152-pound third-place match.

Houston finished third in the team standings with 126 points, well behind conference powers North Pole and Lathrop.

North Pole won the team title with 371.50 points. Lathrop was second with 354.50.

“Our conference is very tough,” Drake said. “North Pole and Lathrop are two of the top teams in the state.”

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