Prep wrestling: Knights boast veteran depth; Warriors and Moose sport youth

PALMER —Last week, the Colony Knights nearly brought home the team title at the Lancer Smith Memorial, Alaska’s toughest regular-season prep wrestling tournament.

And the Knights weren’t even at full strength.

“We’ve had two solid weekends,” Colony head coach Todd Hopkins said recently. “We have pretty good depth. We’re getting tested with injuries. Especially once people get back from injury, it will be good.”

But even in weight classes where the Knights have been hit by injury, Colony continues to find success. Senior Kamber Lucas, a state tournament veteran, entered the season as the team’s No. 1 wrestler at 160 pounds. Lucas missed the Lancer Smith tourney. Colony’s No. 2 at 160, Robert Haan, filled in remarkably, winning the 160-pound class in the tourney.

Haan and Lucas are two of six Colony veterans who placed in the top 6 of the state tournament last season. A seventh, Christopher Ray, placed in the 2013 state tourney.

Haan and Lucas both placed third last season. Chace Booth, Dawson Nash, Spencer Adams and Mitchell Daigle are also returning state placers for the Knights.

In addition to the overall depth, Hopkins also noted the number of seniors on the squad.

“This is the first time in my three years (as head coach) we’ve had a lot of seniors. We have the potential to have 10 seniors in the lineup for regions,” Hopkins said.

Haan, Daigle and freshman Robert Zimmerman each advanced to the final of the Lancer Smith tournament. Haan won his weight class. Daigle (285) and Zimmerman (98) finished second. Sam Sisco (106) and Zach Doan (220) also had good weekends for the Knights.

Doan finished third and Sisco was fourth in their respective brackets.

Hopkins said Doan’s work over the weekend was the best he’s ever wrestled in a high school tournament.

Wasilla Warriors

Wasilla is the defending 4A state champion. Longtime head coach Shawn Hayes said the Warriors have good overall numbers, about 70 wrestlers. But the Warriors have some holes in the lineup to fill. Wasilla graduated it’s three state placers from a year ago, runner-ups Brandon Abbott (106) and Quace Wright (220), and Nate McKimson, the 2014 state champ at 152 pounds.

The Warriors do return a few veterans with state experience. Senior D.J. Morrow placed third at 160 last year. He’s off to a good start this season. Morrow, a 170-pounder, won his weight class at the Bob Bailey Invitational at Chugiak, and was second at the Lancer Smith

“He’s a little bit bigger than last year, an experienced wrestler and good athlete,” Hayes said of Morrow.

Dillon Simpson, Bruce Hill, Berit Sturgeon, Sam Wolff and Bryan McKimson also placed at the state tournament last year.

The Warriors also have Andrew Shannon, who won the 160-pound class at the Bob Bailey during the first weekend of the 4A wrestling season.

In addition to the handful of wrestlers who have placed at state, Hayes said Wasilla sports a great deal of youth on the roster.

Palmer Moose

Palmer may be the youngest team overall in the Valley. It’s lone returning state placer, senior Ben Button, the defending state champion at 220, is sidelined with an injury he suffered during the prep football season. Palmer head coach Dale Ewart said Button, Palmer’s senior leader, will hopefully be back on the mat in time for the Northern Lights Conference Championships.

In the meantime, the Moose coaching staff is working to mentor the next generation.

“We’ve got a young bunch,” Ewart said. “Freshmen and sophomores make up about 80 percent of our team.”

Ewart said he sent all of his freshman to the junior varsity tournaments during the first two weeks of the season, but will begin inserting his younger wrestlers into the varsity lineup.

“They’ve done quite well,” Ewart said of the freshmen. “It’s exciting for the future.”

Senior Graydon Powell is among the leaders in the current varsity lineup. Powell finished fourth at 170 at the Lancer Smith.

“He should be a state-placer for us,” Ewart said. “He’s been working hard.”

The Moose also have Wyatt McGann, who placed third at 138 at the Lancer Smith. Elija Cannon-Rogers was a finalist at the Bob Bailey, and finished second at 182.

Ewart also noted Dillon McKibbon and Noah Smith.