Seeing Red

WASILLA — A wrestling mat creates a distinctive sound when a wrestler takes a good bump. If the loud “whump” is punctuated by a wet, high-pitched crack, you know the men on the mat are working up a good sweat.

Walking in on the Wasilla Warriors program for a Monday afternoon practice, it didn’t take long to figure out where to go — just follow the mat slaps.

Above the WHS gymnasium, dozens of wrestlers work, drill and listen intently as coaches theory-craft about the sport. As head coach Shawn Hayes looks on, he knows 2010 can be a special year for Wasilla wrestling.

“We’ve got a pretty good-sized team and the kids are working hard,” he said. On paper, there are about 85 in the program, “but on any given day it’s hard to have more than 70 on the mat.”

Although it’s still early, Hayes said there’s no time to dawdle in a short Alaska prep season, which culminates in mid-December with the state tournament. The Warriors finished fourth last year, and may be poised to give perennial powerhouse Colony a run. The Knights have won the past four consecutive state titles.

Don’t let Hayes hear you say that, though. Although Wasilla has looked good in early action, including a win Saturday at the Bob Bailey tournament in Chugiak, “We still have a lot of work to do,” the coach said.

But the prospects are promising.

“If we can keep our numbers and this room can keep working as hard as its been working, we have a shot at being in the hunt anyway,” he said.

Part of that optimism comes from what the Warriors have coming back. Wasilla lost only two seniors from last year’s fourth-place team — Jake Marshall, who finished fourth at state at 160 pounds, and Josh Brown, who placed third at 130. That means there’s plenty of experience returning.

“We only lost two, so it’s pretty nice to get almost all of them back, then we’re only going to lose a few from this year, too,” Hayes said.

One wrestler to look for this season is Abe Fox at 125 pounds. Fox was a 4A state runner-up as a freshman at 103 pounds, but didn’t make weight and missed last year’s tourney. As a junior this year, he’s hungry to compete, Hayes said.

There are some underclassmen poised to make their mark in 2010, the coach said. At 103 pounds, Shannon Carpenter has been looking good.

“He hasn’t got to wrestle yet, but he’s probably going to have a good season,” the coach said.

He’s joined in the lower weights by freshmen Ryker Steiner at 112/119 and Nate McKinson at 119 pounds, who Hayes said “had a great tournament last weekend.”

Also returning is Jake Johnson at 215, last year’s state runner up. Jeremy White was fourth at 189 pounds and is looking good so far in 2010, the coach said. And at 285, Ryan Pomrenke can also have a good season. Johnson and Pomrenke won their weight classes last weekend in Chugiak.

Hayes is in his 18th season coaching at Wasilla, and 11th as head coach. He’s looking forward to a November dual against Colony, a program he says has earned its reputation as a dominant force in prep wrestling.

“They’re coming off four state titles, so you know they’re going to be tough,” he said. “They’re always good matches when we wrestle.”

If the Warriors continue to sweat and slap those mats hard in practice, Hayes is optimistic for a strong showing at state.

“If they work hard here, then things should turn out OK in matches out there,” he said.

**Editor’s note: This is the second in a four-part series previewing local prep wrestling teams.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.