Returning state champs lead Valley Division I squads

PALMER — Last season, the Colony Knights finished ahead of rival Wasilla, Lathrop and South Anchorage in the team standings to win its second state championship in three seasons. This year, the same teams are expected to contend for the crown.

“I think there are four teams right there,” Colony head coach Todd Hopkins said earlier this week. “South, Lathrop, Wasilla and Colony. I think that Ketchikan is going to be really dangerous.”

Ketchikan was fifth in state last season, and Palmer was right there at sixth. Each Valley program returns to the mat in 2017, led by at least one defending state champion.

Below is a look at the three Division I wrestling programs in the Valley.

Colony Knights

Defending state champion Rush Fannon and past state champ Sam Sisco lead Colony into the new season. Fannon won at 113 pounds last season. Sisco, a senior, won a state title as a freshman.

“He’s been injured the last two years, but is healthy this year,” Hopkins said of Sisco.

Fannon leads a cast of five Knights who placed in the top 4 in state last season. Caleb Hopkins finished second for the second straight year, Vincent Cramer was third, and Trace Severson and Eric Christy each finished fourth.

Hopkins said the Knights have between 70 to 80 athletes in the wrestling room, which is about normal, and a ton of ninth graders.

“The biggest class is the freshmen by far,” Hopkins said.

And much like recent seasons, many of those freshmen came in ready to compete for spots in the lineup.

“Five to six varsity guys are freshman,” Hopkins said. “It’s really nice. They’ve put in a lot of work.”

Colony’s biggest void in the lineup, at least early in the season, may be in the upper weights where the Knights lost two-time state champion Dawson Nash and 2015 state champ and 2016 runner-up Robert Haan to graduation.

“We don’t have the numbers in the upper we do in the lower weights, but eventually we’ll be able to fill them, all,” Hopkins said.

Hopkins did note Simon Ganchenko who finished second at 195 pounds during The Altercation at Houston High, the first meet of the season.

Wasilla Warriors

Like its rival, Wasilla also has a pair of state champions back in the lineup. Micah Mathis earned his third straight title last season. Isaiah Elvsaas captured his first.

“It’s nice to have two returning state champs,” Wasilla head coach Shawn Hayes said earlier this week.

Added to that is Christian Alexander, who finished third last year, and Isaac Rodman, a fourth-place finisher. Hayes said all aforementioned are among a bunch that have the ability to make an impact in the middle of he lineup. The list also includes Alex Logsdon, Sterling Uhlenhake, Wesley Fraker and Hunter Hayes.

“We have a bunch of experience, tough kids in there,” Hayes said.

Hayes said the Warriors have about 70 athletes in the wrestling room and a lot of young talent.

“A ton of ninth and 10th graders,” Hayes said.

Hayes said the Wasilla High team includes a large group of wrestlers who helped Wasilla Middle School win the Tanana Invitational, the unofficial middle school state championship, two years ago.

“They’re pretty savvy kids. They’re working hard,” Hayes said.

Palmer Moose

Palmer may have half the participation of its Division I Valley rivals, but head coach Daniel Graham is as excited about the potential of his group.

“Colony, Wasilla are super tough teams this year, but we want to make a three-way battle at regions and state,” Graham said.

Defending state champion Levi Farris is among the team leaders on the 2017 squad. But Farris is among the PHS athletes who also play football. Palmer advanced to the state title game in football, stretching its football season into the first week of the wrestling season.

“We’re starting to get the football guys rearing up to go to see what the team looks like with all of them,” Graham said.

Senior Lucas Santana is another football player Graham is happy to see return to the mat. Santana, who was named state lineman of the year in his class, is expected to be at heavyweight for the Moose.

Graham said the middle of the lineup, particularly at 152 pounds, should be a strength for the Moose. Hunter Bleakney and Asa Barnes are standing out. Graham said he currently has about seven wrestlers who could potentially wrestle at 152. Palmer is working to spread that group out, he said.

Zion Rogers is another solid returner for the Moose, Graham said. Jason Watkins is also back, after a full recovery from an offseason injury.

Sophomore Payton Portney had a strong offseason and has high expectations, Graham said. Graham said freshmen Owen Manley and Jacob Dyer are also off to strong starts.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.