Prep wrestling: Knights dominate Nikiski duals

NIKISKI — Eddie Buffington glanced up at the scoreboard as Skyview huddled in a circle.

Owning a five-point lead, the senior thought the match was over and that the Panthers had claimed their third-place dual over the second of two Colony teams entered in Saturday’s Peninsula Duals at Nikiski High School.

That’s when the Knights’ 103-pounder Isaac Wilson walked onto the mat and toward the referee, who promptly raised his arm in triumph, a crushing blow to Skyview as their final forfeit cost them the match, 39-38, leaving them in fourth place.

“I thought we won. I thought we totally won,” Buffington said. “I forgot about the forfeit at 103. I was shocked.”

As was senior Patrick Sheridan, although he still believes the Panthers were successful.

“We did win seven out of 10 matches that we wrestled,” he explained. “Personally, I think it was kind of a victory for us even if it wasn’t technically a victory.”

Both upperclassmen did their part, along with Kenny Mahan, in earning three consecutive swift pins to stake the Panthers to a comfortable cushion before the Knights stormed back.

On the other mat, Colony’s top team earned the overall team title with a dominating 52-18 victory over second-place Kodiak.

“We had a great weekend. We lost to both Colony teams and Colony’s the No. 1 team in the state,” said Skyview coach Neldon Gardner. “Kodiak and Colony are two of the top teams in the state. We’ve got a young team.”

Bethel took fifth with a 51-18 win over Sitka and Homer earned seventh place with a 42-30 triumph over Kenai.

Following the victory, Colony coach Fred McKinney said the duals, which allowed the defending class 4A state champion Knights to get multiple matches in over two days, were a good way to start getting into the season.

“Obviously, they did well. We're very pleased to be here. Nikiski put on a terrific tournament and all my kids got to wrestle like seven, eight times, which is a lot better than any tournament I could go to. This is the place to come if you want to get some matches and get your moneys worth.”

Matthew Carroll can be reached at matthew.carroll@peninsulaclarion.com.

CHAMPIONSHIP DUAL

103 — Coisman, Col, p. Nelson, Kod, 3:05

112 — Ivanoff, Kod, dec. Vukick, Col, 2-1

119 — K. Wilson, Col, p. Castinguoy, 1:22

125 — Beauchamp, Col, dec. Cubbedge, Kod, 8-0

130 — Boss, Col, p. Cubbedge, :24

135 — Eggemeyer, Kod, p. Pfeiffer, Col, 2:58

140 — Van Ness, Col, dec. Fields, Kod, 9-4

145 — Krueger, Col, p. Rounsaville, Kod, 2:31

152 — Crozier, Col, p. Gabor, Kod, 1:55

160 — Branson, Kod, maj. dec. Olivera, Col, 13-0

171 — Milner, Col, dec. Anthony, Kod, 8-3

189 — Caswell, Kod, p. Boykin, Col, 3:57

215 — Wright, Col, p. Martin, Kod, 3:45

HWT — Pritchett, Col, p. Long, Kod, 1:45

THIRD PLACE

103 — R. Wilson, Col, won by forfeit

112 — B. Wilson, Sky, tech fall Woolsey, Col, 17-0

119 — K. Boss, Col, won by forfeit

125 — Hutchison, Sky, won by forfeit

130 — Janorschke, Sky, p. Gregory, Col, 4:42

135 — Wrench, Col, dec. Jackson, Sky, 7-2

140 — Thomas, Sky, dec. Knutson, Col, 8-4

145 — Filkins, Col, won by forfeit

152 — Trask, Col, p. Pollard, Sky, 1:58

160 — James, Col, won by forfeit

171 — Sheridan, Sky, p. Don, :14

189 — Buffington, Sky, p. James, Col, :24

215 — Mahan, Sky, p. Mattes, Col, :45

HWT — Buck, Col, p. Mraz, Sky, 2:29

FIFTH PLACE

103 — R. Hanson, Bet, p. O’Neill, Sit, 1:32

112 — Abt, Sit, won by forfeit

119 — Richardson, Bet, dec. MacIntyre, Sit, 7-0

125 — O’Brien, Bet, dec. Carlson, Sit, 9-6

130 — Chavez, Bet, p. Erickson, Sit, 2:58

135 — Samuelson, Bet, p. M. Hanson, Sit, 1:30

140 — J. McIntyre, Bet, p. Poindexter, Sit, 1:50

145 — McDonald, Bet, p. Lehman, Sit, 1:05

152 — double forfeit

160 — Chavez, Bet, dec. Johnson, Sit, 6-4

171 — Torgeson, Sit, won by forfeit

189 — Wasierski, Bet, p. Mille, Sit, 3:01

215 — Feldnausch, Sit, won by forfeit

HWT — Thomas, Bet, p. Boydston, Sit, :33

SEVENTH PLACE

103 — Garney, Hom, won by forfeit

112 — Edge, Hom, won by forfeit

119 — Osbekoff, Ken, p. B. Wyatt, Hom, :45

125 — B. Daigle, Hom, p. Sterling, Ken, :35

130 — Hughes, Ken, p. Locklar, Hom, :50

135 — Appelhanz, Hom, won by forfeit

140 — Brymer, Hom, p. Connor, Ken, 1:05

145 — M. Wyatt, Hom, won by forfeit

152 — Boyle, Ken, p. Mayes, Hom, 1:10

160 — Hensler, Ken, dec. Weinfurter, Hom, 5-1

171 — Edge, Hom, dec. Dambacher, Ken, 7-3

189 — Quade, Ken, won by forfeit

215 — double forfeit

HWT — Lipps, Hom, p. Harville, Hom, :20