Prep wrestling: State champs aim to repeat

WASILLA — Colony’s wrestling team huddled together at the end of practice Wednesday afternoon.

“Who’s the best wrestling team in Alaska?” someone in the middle of the group called out.

“Colony!” the team responded.

Again, the question rang out.

“Who?”

“Colony!” the wrestlers called out again.

“Who?” one more time, for good measure.

“Colony Knights!”

That last, loud explosion of voices left no question about it. The Knights truly believe they’re part of the state’s top wrestling program.

If the Knights are confident heading into the 2007 season, they’ve got good reason. The defending class 4A state champions are a big favorite to challenge for another title this year. In fact, this year’s Knights could be even better than last year’s version.

Head coach Fred McKinney said he’s got more than 80 wrestlers out for the team this year, nearly 20 more than were in the program last season. The team is so big, the Knights have at times had to split practices into two groups because of limited space at the school.

“That’s the problem with having a successful program I guess,” McKinney said following practice.

Colony will begin its quest for a second consecutive title Saturday with a small tri-meet with Seward and Dimond. McKinney said he’s also thinking of sending a group of wrestlers to the Houston Invitational. In fact, he said it’s a good bet that the Knights will be sending more than one team to numerous tournaments this season.

“There will be times I’ll send guys to three different places,” he said.

And it’s not just quantity, but quality as well. While the Knights no longer have 135-pounder Hollan Gravely — last year’s state tournament most outstanding wrestler — the team is still loaded, with eight of 11 state place winners back for another season.

Leading that group will be junior Kyle Wilson, the state’s defending champion at 112 pounds. Also back for another season will be sophomores Chase Montgomery (second at 103 pounds last season), Charles Coisman (fourth at 103) and Eric Fan (fourth at 215); junior Josh West (second at 119); and seniors Aaron Ross (second at 112), Zac Beauchamp (fifth at 125) and Levi Kruger (fourth at 125).

Add to that group a crop of freshmen that McKinney called “probably the best since I’ve been here,” and it’s a good bet the Knights will be a force to be reckoned with.

“We have a whole bunch of quality kids coming back,” McKinney said.

The team is so deep, in fact, McKinney said he believes there are members of the team’s junior varsity that are good enough to make state — but won’t because they’ll be stuck behind teammates on the depth chart.

“My first line guys are just so tough,” he said.

McKinney said the Knights aren’t the only program in the state — or the Valley, for that matter — who are capable of winning a title. He said several schools — including South, East, Chugiak, Soldotna and Juneau — all have solid teams this season.

“You just never know,” he said.

And then there’s Wasilla. The Valley’s other wrestling powerhouse saw a three-year title run end last season, and McKinney said he has no doubt the Warriors will be looking for some revenge this time around.

“They’ll be foaming at the mouth,” he said. “Just like we were last year.”

The Mat-Su dominance at state over the past few seasons, McKinney said, likely has more to do with factors outside the high school’s walls. He credited coaches at local middle schools for supplying area programs (Palmer also finished seventh at state last season) with a flow of quality wrestlers.

“The key to our program is the middle school coaches,” he said. “They’re the key to our success right now.”

Still, McKinney said just because the Knights are in good shape early in the season, doesn’t mean the team can count on a second consecutive state crown.

“It’s easy to get there, it’s a lot harder to stay there,” McKinney pointed out. “You’re only as good as your last match.”

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com