Prep wrestling: Warriors aim for another title

JEREMIAH BARTZ/ Frontiersman sports editor

PALMER - For the last few seasons the Wasilla High School wrestling squad has been the team to beat in not only the Northern Lights Conference, but the state.

As the Warriors venture toward their goal of a three-peat in the 4A state championships, Wasilla will go for the three-peat this weekend in the region championships.

Last season the Warriors placed 13 wrestlers in the region finals, and 23 WHS grapplers qualified for the state tournament. Wasilla head coach Shawn Hayes said the Warriors should be right in that ballpark again this weekend.

&#8220That's pretty realistic,” Hayes said Thursday. &#8220It's nice to have 20 or better (in the state tournament). Right now we're two deep in every weight class.”

Four Wasilla wrestlers are vying for their second straight individual title, while a pair of Warrior grapplers will compete for their third straight title.

Jake Wade won the 171-pound bracket as a sophomore and junior, and will look for the 189-pound title as a senior. Fellow senior Chuck Carpenter is in search of his third-straight title at 160.

Alan Bartelli, Sam Miller, Mike Trudeau and Trevor Pempek are also defending region champions.

If the competition goes as some predict, Bartelli and Pempek could each find themselves in very key matches in the region finals.

The match of the day could pit Bartelli against Kodiak's Jimmy Eggemeyer in the 112-pound final. Bartelli has only seen Eggemeyer once, losing 4-3 in the finals of the North-South Tournament earlier in the year.

&#8220It was a close match, with a takedown right at the end,” Hayes said. &#8220Things haven't worked out as far as us seeing (Kodiak).”

Because of that win Eggemeyer has been the top-ranked at 112 throughout the year. Bartelli has been ranked second.

Pempek is also the second-ranked wrestler in the state at the 145-pound class, behind Clark Buffington, of Skyview. The pair have faced each other several times throughout there career, including a handful of matches this season. Buffington edged Pempek 5-3 at the Glen Vandergaw Invitational at Dimond High School on Jan. 14. He also scored a five-point win and a pin against Pempek earlier in the year.

&#8220He's been in the finals with this kid all year long, battling,” Hayes said. &#8220Each time you get to wrestle them, you get a little bit closer.”

Another interesting weight class could be 125. The Warriors have a pair of grapplers, Danny Lyles and Mike Chafin, with the potential of reaching the finals.

&#8220Danny Lyles and Mike Chafin have been battling at 125, consistently placing in the top three,” Hayes said. &#8220We'll see what happens after a year of hard work.”

Other Warriors in contention for a spot in the finals include Ceasar Barrera (130), Duane Carpenter (140) and Donnie Salmon (275).

Colony finished third in the team standings last year, and moved 13 wrestlers into the finals. Two-time defending state champion Hollan Gravley leads the Knights. Gravely is the top-ranked wrestler at 130.

Aaron Boss (103) and Zach Beauchamp (119) could also compete for a spot in the region finals.

The Palmer Moose, who had nine wrestlers at state last year, are led by sophomore Wes Mills, the fifth-ranked grappler in the state at 119.