Redington, Colony wrestlers win titles at Houston wrestling meet

Thomas Swalling started his 2023 season, the same way he capped his 2022 campaign.

The Redington standout won his weight class.

Swalling, a defending Division II state champion, pinned Dalen Beck of Valdez in the 160-pound final to win an individual crown during the Houston Altercation, the first prep wrestling meet of the season, Saturday at Houston High School.

Swalling, who won the 145-pound class at the state meet last season, was one of a pair of Valley grapplers to place first Saturday.

Ty Hermon led Colony with the 130-pound title. Harmon beat Seward’s Hunter Forshee-Kurtz 5-1 in the finals.

Hermon was one of three Knights to advance to the finals. Matthew Mitchell (135) and Tristan Mayer (145) both finished second.

Redington’s Aiden LaSelle was also second at 140.

Colony was the runner-up in the team standings, with 254.5 total points. Defending Division I state champion was first with 306.5 and defending Division II state champ Redington was fifth. Palmer also finished fourth.

Palmer also advanced three wrestlers to the finals. Carter Paulson (189), Jacob Lehman (215) and Rueger Mothershead (285) were all second.

Colony’s Laramie Gibson (152) and Thomas Weller (189), and Palmer’s Cody Vansiegman (145) and Kaelan Vesel (215) finished third.

Colony’s Emiliano King (145) and Isaac Alvarado (285), Palmer’s William Lindsey (140) and Duke McGuffey (152), and Wasilla’s Chase Foss (125) and Liam Brown (215) were fifth.

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