Saving the best for last: Colony senior earns his first career state title, 4 Knights crowned champs

ANCHORAGE — Trace Severson had enjoyed a solid prep wrestling career. Severson was fourth in state as a sophomore and third as a junior. But the Colony senior saved his best for last.

A week after earning Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Northern Lights Conference Championships, Severson knocked off two of the top four seeds in his weight class en route to earning his first career state title during the final day of the ASAA/First National Bank Division I State Wrestling Championships Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Severson scored a 13-0 victory over Wasilla junior Gregory Dean, an unseeded wrestler, in the 145-pound final.

“I knew he was tough and he came out firing,” Severson said.

Severson, No. 6 seed in his bracket, dominated, wrestling from ahead for most of the match.

“I just had to wrestle my style. I had to just wrestle like it was another match, I couldn’t make it bigger than it was,” Severson said. “Not going too big just keeping it my style, slow and steady.”

Severson took leg of Dean’s leg and spun him around the mat in the second period before taking him down.

“It was the first time for Trace as a senior making the finals and he did a dominant job. I’m proud of him,” Colony head coach Todd Hopkins said.

Dean attempted a similar move, but Severson was able to escape and ended up winning by major decision.

“Just shooting shots, that’s what I do. I shoot shots, hold on and eventually get the takedown,” Severson said.

Severson thanked the Colony coaching staff for pushing him to become a state champion.

“They knew I could be special and they helped me get to the point where I am,” Severson said.

Severson was of four Knights to earn a state title and helped Colony finish second overall in the team standings. Fellow seniors Rush Fannon and Eric Christy both repeated as champions. Fannon completed the three-peat, and Christy won a state crown for the second straight year. Colony sophomore Aidan Ehmann joined Severson as a first-time champ.

Fannon was seeded second at 140 points and wrestled Lathrop’s Kobe Ames, who was the top seed and came into the match with a state title of his own. Fannon bested Ames at Lancer Smith and both wrestlers came into the match at 26-1, with both of their losses coming to one another.

“We’ve both dominated everybody else so I knew that it was just going to be me and him,” Fannon said.

Midway through the first round, Fannon took a shot from Ames’ hand, backed away and shook his head. Fannon got back to work and developed a 4-3 lead going into the third period. Fannon stands considerably taller than Ames, and wrestled much of the match from the outside. After the dust-up, Fannon pushed Ames in the head and shoulders to get him off of his base. Fannon said that playing mind games was part of his strategy.

“It’s a big part of it. If you can get somebody moving and pushing on their head and getting them angry, then they start making mistakes and you get into their head so it helps a lot,” Fannon said.

Ames scored an escape and tied it at four, but Fannon earned late takedowns to win 8-5 and chalk up his third state championship in four years.

“He came into the match and felt a little bit bigger than me so I just had to figure him out for the first round or two to see what he was like,” Fannon said. “I think my constant moving and matching his level in his stance and stuff and having heavy hands and quick feet and not letting him latch onto my legs, stuff like that, just little things.”

Fannon gave credit to the Colony coaching staff for improving his wrestling over four years. Fannon said that he is 10 times the wrestler now than he was his freshman year.

“They’re super great and challenging you all the time. They’re making you work hard, they don’t force you is what the cool part is, they let you be what you want to be and they encourage us to be the best that we can be and that helps us win a ton,” Fannon said.

Fannon walked away from the circle and poked three fingers from his right hand into his left forearm.

“Ice in my veins,” Fannon said.

Hopkins knew that Fannon would put on a show in the biggest match of his career.

“Rush just likes it when the lights are on. He always shows when the lights are on,” Hopkins said.

Christy dominated his match, in the 171-pound class, capping a masterful career as a high school wrestler. Christy notched his 53rd straight win and his second state title, defeating Jacob Anderson of South 5-1 in the final, the fourth of Colony’s individual titles.

“It’s the last match I’m ever going to wrestle so I’m glad I came out on top,” Christy said.

Christy had missed much of the season due to illness, and knew that his conditioning was not up to par coming into the final, but relied on his technique.

“Eric coming off an illness doesn’t have the conditioning maybe that he normally would but he willed himself to win,” Hopkins said.

Christy, who was a standout for the Colony High Football team, fell ill with mononucleosis and just started wrestling in earnest a few weeks ago. Though they both weighed in for the 171 final, Christy admitted that his opponent, the bracket’s No. 2 seed, had a strength advantage going into the match.

“I knew I had to slow his pace down because he never stops going and I think I did that pretty well,” Christy said. “All my technique I’ve learned throughout the years, I’ve been doing this since I was five so I think my technique just outmatched him.”

Christy was overjoyed to see Severson earn his first state title.

“He’s been my best friend for a long time and it’s just awesome to see him get that victory,” Christy said.

Ehmann entered the final as the second seed against top seeded Alexander Logsdon of Wasilla. It was the fourth meeting of the season between the Valley rivals. Logsdon held the 2-1 advantage, most recently beating Ehmann in the region finals. But Ehmann got the best of him in the state final.

“He came out aggressive. It was someone that they go back and forth all year long. If Aiden comes out aggressive good things happen,” Hopkins said.

Ehmann said that knowing his opponent so thoroughly was an advantage heading into the championship match.

“It’s a good thing because state finals, big matches, I do better under pressure and under bigger circumstances,” Ehmann said.

Ehmann’s only losses of the season came to Logsdon, and the Colony grappler led Logsdon 7-0 going into the final round. But Logsdon would not go down without a fight, scoring two takedowns. It was not enough to overcome Ehmann’s lead, who won 11-4 and became Colony’s first of four state champions on the night.

Ehmann has his sights set on lofty goals for the coming seasons.

“More state titles, trying to get that undefeated season,” Ehmann said.

Ehmann said that without the help of his coaches and pressure from his teammates, he would not have won a state title.

“We’re real tight knit. We’re all like brothers. We’re not friends, brothers. We all get along, pick on each other but it’s a brotherhood is what it is,” Ehmann said.

Colony sophomore Jared Hopkins earned his second trip to the state final in as many years, seeded second against top seeded Niko Mayo of South Anchorage. Hopkins finished second at 106 last year, and took second this year, falling 3-1 to Mayo in the championship match.

TJ Clapp of Colony entered the championship match as the six seed against top-seeded Aedyn Concepcion, who has now won 89 straight matches over the last two years. Clapp suffered a 9-3 loss to Concepcion and took second after defeating the second and third seeds on his way to the final.

Colony’s Vincent Cramer upset the second seed during the semifinals and reached the final as the third seed against unseeded Tho Cha of South Anchorage. Cramer led early and carried a 4-3 lead into the third period, but lost 6-5 to Cha and took second. Cha was named the Division I Most Outstanding Wrestler following the meet.

Palmer’s Asa Barnes suffered a 16-4 defeat to undefeated Christian Hudson of South Anchorage in the final at 152 pounds.

Colony senior Levi Hopkins earned a second-place finish, losing 7-5 in the final to top seeded Bradley Antesberger of North Pole, who has not lost in more than two full seasons. Hopkins had been wrestling at 171 but went up a weight class to 189 for state when Christy returned from illness. Hopkins won a state title as a freshman and kept it close with Antesberger for the duration of the match.

Kristina Gerasimyuk, the only Valley wrestler in the girls’ state final, lost for the third time this season. Gerasimyuk was dominating the second seed, Ruby Massin of Petersburg, for much of the first period and into the second. Leading 5-0 after the first and 9-0 into the second, Massin caught Gerasimyuk and pinned her in the second period, upsetting the top seed in the tournament.

Redington’s Charles Severance was the only Valley competitor in the Division II bracket, reaching the final at 130 pounds. Severance came in as the second seed and battled top seeded Blaine Henning of Unalaska, but lost 11-5 and came in second place.

Colony will take a handful of wrestlers to Reno, Nevada, next week for the Reno Tournament of Champions. Fannon hopes to wrestle well enough to earn a scholarship, and Hopkins knows that the best teams in Alaska wrestling aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

“I fully anticipate that South, Lathrop, Wasilla and Colony will be battling it out next year and it will be, I believe it will be tighter than it was this year in terms of those four teams. They’re going to be closer together,” Hopkins said.

Though Valley wrestling has been prominent over the last few decades, Hopkins doesn’t see anything changing in how they approach the season.

“We’ll be working hard,” Hopkins said. “We’re never going to stop working.”

Contact Frontiersman reporter Tim Rockey at tim.rockey@frontiersma.com.

ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships

Friday-Saturday, Alaska Airlines Center

DIVISION I

Team scores — 1. Homer, 180 points; 2. Glennallen, 157; 3. Bethel, 156.5; 4. Dillingham, 115; 5. Unalaska, 85.5; 6. Grace Christian, 80; 7. Kotzebue, 78.5; 8. Redington, 78; 9. Mt. Edgecumbe, 71.5; 10. Wrangell, 70; 11. Voznesenka, 68.5; 12. Nome, 68; 13. Craig, 64; 14. Napaskiak, 59.5; 15. Sitka, 52; 16. Kenai Central, 50; 17. Nikiski, 48.5; 18. Eielson, 46.5; 19. ACS, 46; 20. Barrow, 39.

Championship matches

103 — Jeremy Bockert, Lat, 9-2 dec. Adam Concepcion, Sou; 112 — Aedyn Concepcion, Sou, 9-3 dec. TJ Clapp, Col; 119 — Aidan Ehmann, Col, 11-4 dec. Alexander Logsdon, Was; 125 — Niko Mayo, Sou, 3-1 dec. Jared Hopkins, Col; 130 — Jacob Shack, Sou, MD 13-5 Gideon Hutchison, Sol; 135 — Theo Cha, Sou, 6-5 dec. Vincent Cramer, Col; 140 — Rush Fannon, Col, 8-5 dec. Kobe Ames, Lat; 145 — Trace Severson, Col, MD 13-0 Gregory Dean, Was; 152 — Christian Hudson, Sou, MD 16-4 Asa Barnes, Pal; 160 — Andrue Shepersky, Lat, 4-2 dec. Nathan Kisgen, Lat; 171 — Eric Christy, Col, 5-2 dec. Jacob Anderson, Sou; 189 — Bradley Antesberger, NP, 7-5 dec. Levi Hopkins, Col; 215 — Aaron Faletoi, Sol, pin Kelton Mock, Wes, 4:49; 285 — Henry Saafi, Sou, 3-2 dec. Poe Vaafuti, Wes.

3rd-place matches

103 — Degan Linne, Ket, 4-2 dec. Benjamin Pope, Eas; 112 — Roberto Lechuga Porras, Lat, 8-3 dec. Colton Parduhn, Lat; 119 — Patrick Rauwolf, Ket, MD 12-2 Jacob Harvey, Col; 125 — Sabastian Benefield, NP, 10-9 dec. Octavius McCleskey, Eas; 130 — William Poland, Lat, 4-1 dec. Kayden Payne, Col; 135 — Hunter Hayes, Was, 5-1 dec. Isaac Rodman, Was; 140 — Wesley Wolff, Was, 2-0 dec. Hunter Sasser, Col; 145 — Brandon DeYarmon, Sou, pin 4:52 Isaac Coon, WV; 152 — Rylan Randolph-Oxholm, Dim, 5-2 dec. Josiah Opp, Lat; 160 — Spencer Martin, Sou, 3-2 dec. Michael Chaput, Sou; 171 — Josh Nummer, Kod, pin 4:06 Sean Babitt, Sol; 189 — Dorian Mellon, Sou, 5-4 dec. Sean Michel, Lat; 215 — Jamar Toston, Col, SV 5-3 Derek Mason, Thu; 285 — John Fitzpatrick, Eas, pin 2:26 Melvin Lloyd, Sol.

5th-place matches

103 — Andrew Killian-Dalrymple, Lat, pin :52 Chandler Jasper, Was; 112 — Kai Clein, WV, 4-1 dec. Carter Silva, Col; 119 — Garrett Bourne, Lat, MD 12-1 Taylor McAlpin, Sou; 125 — Simon Keffalos, Sou, pin 3:33 Payton Portney, Pal; 130 — Wesley Fraker, Was, 9-4 dec. Rett Gallagher, Col; 135 — Riley Harris, Sou, pin :45 Matthew Sanchez, Lat; 140 — Andy Collins, pin 1:50 Niles Williams, Was; 145 — Andrew Mueller, Lat, pin 3:42 Brayde Wolfe, Sol; 152 — Tanner Thornhill, Col, 5-3 dec. Andrew Green, Ser; 160 — James Goodman, Kod, 3-1 dec. Austin Hacker, Was; 171 — Levi Farris, Pal, 12-5 dec. Colton Lindquist, Was; 189 — Brandon Wieber, Ket, inj. Daniel Niebles, Chu; 215 — Andrew Hamilton, ER, 12-7 dec. Elias Roehl-Paredes, Wes; 285 — Brock Weatherspoon, NP, 8-2 dec. Eli Floyd, Sol.

DIVISION II

Team scores — 1. South Anchorage, 340; 2. Colony, 316.5; 3. Lathrop, 261.5; 4. Wasilla, 178; 5. Soldotna, 127.5; 6. North Pole, 81; 7. Ketchikan, 75; 8. West Anchorage, 69.5; 9. East Anchorage, 68; 10. Palmer, 59.5; 11. West Valley, 42; 12. Kodiak, 37.5; 13. Thunder Mountain, 32; 14. Eagle River, 26; 14. Service, 26; 16. Dimond, 23; 17. Chugiak, 13; 18. Bartlett, 10.

Championship matches

103 — Landon Smith, Bet, 11-7 dec. Ryan Rooney, Wra; 112 — Caleb O’Hara, ACS, 9-2 dec. Joseph Smith, Bet; 119 — Maxim Kusnetsov, Voz, SV 13-11 Alex Buck, Gle; 125 — Seth Inama, Hom, TF 17-2 Caleb Evatt, Nom; 130 — Blaine Henning, UAK, 11-5 dec. Charles Severance, Red; 135 — Luciano Fasulo, Hom, pin 5:28 Chris Williams, Dill; 140 — Wayne Newman, Hom, 3-1 dec. Jesse Noden, Dill; 145 — Aengus Bancroft, Gle, 10-6 dec. Ben Cross, Nom; 152 — Dillon Chaney, Dill, 2-1 dec. Mose Hayes, Hom; 160 — Hayden Lieb, Bet, 4-1 dec. Gabe Martin, Gra; 171 — Eliot Merriner, Gra, 6-1 dec. Kael Gerlach, Gle; 189 — Caden Gerlach, Gle, pin 1:22 Ethan Roetman, Kot; 215 — Benjamin Joe Heather, Bar, 4-3 dec. Seth Henning, UAK; 285 — Jadin Mann, Hom, 5-1 dec. Haley Osborne, MtE.

3rd-place matches

103 — Colton Ewers, Sit, MD 9-1 Talon Whicker, Ken; 112 — Stephen Maxie, Nap, 7-3 dec. Darius Tilden, Dill; 119 — Boston Postishek, Red, 9-3 dec. Jordan Korth, Gle; 125 — Zach Giron, Cra, 11-6 dec. John Esnardo, Una; 130 — Daniel Chakuchin, Bet, 6-5 dec. Matt Bohlman, ACS; 135 — Aaron Williams, Nap, pin 4:44 Jay Rick Nobleza, Bar; 140 — Jacob Gagner, Sit, 11-6 dec. Dustin Ruckman, UAK; 145 — Leon Evon, MtE, inj 1:00 Dia Martishev, Voz; 152 — Hunter Wiederspohn, Wra, pin 4:02 Josh Bradshaw, Hom; 160 — Tucker Vann, Ken, pin 3:31 Koleman McCaughey, Nik; 171 — Anthony Kalugin, Voz, inj. :00 Erik Mills-Bain, Kot; 189 — Nephi Tidwell, Eie, 5-2 dec. Billy Nelson, Kot; 215 — Elijah Lindley, Bet, pin 1:50 Dustin Mullins, Nik; 285 — Ryan Smith, Bet, pin 1:42 Wesley Verhamme, Hai.

5th-place matches

103 — Seth Jacob, Nap, TF 16-0 Gusty Blunka Jr., NSt; 112 — Demetry Hoseth, Dill, 3-1 dec. Keegan Delaquito, Gle; 119 — Zach Kolbe, Dill, 8-6 dec. Jacob Andrew, NSt; 125 — JJ Marble, Nom, 4-3 dec. James Paris, Red; 130 — Ian Stovall, Hom, TF 18-3 Thomas Ooka, Sew; 135 — Joshua Baird, Eie, SV 12-10 Colton Dow, Gra; 140 — Moses Korth, Gle, pin 2:57; Gavin Metcalf, Red; 145 — Austin Cramer, Gle, pin 2:25 Jamin Crow, Bet; 152 — Graham Staley, Eie, 8-1 dec. Elden Cross, Nom; 160 — Kole Sperl, Pet, 7-6 dec. Luke Wegend, Cra; 171 — Omar Powers, Delta, 7-5 dec. Wayland Patton, Cra; 189 — Dillon Rooney, Wra, 3-2 dec. John Welsh, Sit; 215 — Andrew Bergan, Kot, pin :41 Rocky Sherbahn, Ken; 285 — Ulric Lehman, Cra, forf. Russell Saccheus, Elim.

GIRLS

Team scores — 1. Mt. Edgecumbe, 141; 2. Bethel, 102; 3. Lathrop, 92; 4. South Anchorage, 88; 5. Eielson, 78; 6. North Pole, 74; 7. Hutchison, 57; 8. Homer, 52; 9. Wasilla, 51.5; 10. Kotzebue, 51; 11. Eagle River, 40; 12. Ketchikan, 39; 13. Palmer, 38; 14. Nome, 36; 15. Dillingham, 35; 16. Petersburg, 34; 17. West Anchorage, 32; 18. Soldotna, 30; 19. Wrangell, 26; 20. East Anchorage, 24.

Championship matches

103 — Jolie Lucas, Eie, pin 3:42 Dellarae Charlie, Bet; 112 — Starr Erickson, Nom, pin 1:55 Liana Carney, Wra; 119 — Elizabeth Schumaker, NP, pin 4:36 Tatiana Green, Was; 125 — Ruby Massin, Pet, pin 2:42 Kristina Gerasimyuk, Was; 130 — Shelby Ottum, Sou, pin 4:27 Rebecca Samuelson, Bet; 135 — Brystel Charlie, MtE, 5-0 dec. Lindsey Beans-Polk, Bet; 145 — McKenzie Cook, Hom, pin 4:00 Nailah Bealer, Eie; 160 — Madison Ellis, Sou, pin 1:30 Amanda Wylie, Sol; 189 — Jayleen Sekona, Sou, 5-0 dec. Alaina Pete, MtE; 235 — Debranna Bealer, Eie, 3-0 dec. Maggie Miller, MtE.

3rd-place matches

103 — Trinity Pendergrass, Pal, 9-6 dec. Jean Krause, Dil; 112 — Autumn Poland, Lat, pin 1:53 Zaida Baldwin, Kot; 119 — Alyssa Andrews, ER, pin 2:11 Heidi Warner, Was; 125 — Jaron Mute, Bet, SV 4-2 Kaitlynne Rice, Hut; 130 — Janice Dykes, NP, pin :49 Maysa Brown, MtE; 135 — Kaleiha Ashbury, Hut, pin 3:33 Kenya Edwards, Hut; 145 — Anya Pingayak, MtE, pin 3:29 Candace Wilson, Kot; 160 — Dakota Magnuson, MtE, 3-1 dec. Halle Savage, Una; 189 — Megan Parrish, NP, SV 8-6 Rachel Moore, Sha; 235 — Ashlan Tisega, Wes, pin 3:14 Jana Allen, Val.

5th-place matches

103 — Kelsi Madson, Bet, 5-1 dec. Jessica McCall, Kot; 112 — Ashley Andrews, ER, pin 3:37 Eva Sherman-Dawe, Dim; 119 — Cate Gomez, Dill, inj. Sadie Blake, Hom; 125 — Aiyana Erhart, Lat, pin 2:13 Ada Odden, Ket; 130 — Olivia Troxell, Kod, 5-3 dec. Jessie Merrick, Hou; 135 — Danielle Johnson, Lat, pin 4:55 Hayley Gilson, Ket; 145 — Eve Negovanna, Bar, inj. Autumn Williams, Lat; 160 — Desarae Matheny, Lat, pin 2:00 Twyla Anderstrom, Red; 189 — Jacelyn Chikigak, Ala, inj. Theresia Vaafuti, Wes; 235 — Jaideen Agbayani, Pal, 5-4 dec. Tryston Macar, MtE.