Senior heavyweight leading Hawks early in season

WASILLA — The Houston Hawks, led by their senior heavyweight, are off to a strong start in 2017.

Dylan Jackson won his weight class for the third straight week and helped his team win its pool during the King of the Mountain Duals in Seward. Jackson, who finished first in the 285-pound bracket at Houston’s Altercation tournament during the opening weekend of the season and the Throwdown at Snowtown in Valdez last week, remained undefeated with his victories at Seward. Opponents have yet to score a point against Houston.

“Dylan is focused. Very focused,” Houston head coach Danny Moffitt said in an email. “He drives himself and he drives his teammates.”

Jackson — a 6-foot and 264-pound senior who recently earned first-team all-conference honors following the prep football season — hit the mat in great shape, Moffitt said. But determination has been key.

During pool play, Jackson helped Houston beat Barrow 48-33, Soldotna 42-39, Kotzebue 39-36 and Anchorage Christian 42-39.

Moffitt also noted the work of seniors Robert Ritter, Justin Gericke and Xavier Anderson early in the season. Ritter has advanced to the finals in each of the first three weeks of the season, and has finished second three times. Gericke won his weight class in Valdez, and has also posted a second-place finish this year. Anderson made the move to 170 pounds, and finished second in his class at Seward. Junior Shawn Graham has returned from injury and is getting back to speed at 220 pounds, Moffitt said. Moffitt said the Hawks are also looking forward to the return of senior Damien Jessup (138) and junior Eli Knapp (170).

Houston currently has 36 wrestlers on the roster.

Wasilla and Redington scored the top two spots in the Pool B standings. Wasilla, which sent its varsity team to the duals tournament at South Anchorage, finished first. Redingotn was second, and the Houston JV was fourth in the Pool B.

Wasilla’s Chandler Jones (98 pounds) and Sterling Uhlenhake (138) earned gold in their respective weight class.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports@frontiersman.com.

King of the Mountain Duals

Friday-Saturday, Seward

Individual champions:

98 pounds — Chandler Jones, Wasilla; 106 — Caleb O’Hara, ACS; 113 — Maxim Kusnetsov, Voznesenka; 120 — John Esnardo, Unalaska 126 — Gideon Hutchison, Soldotna; 132 — Sean Dorsey, Glennallen; 138 — Sterling Uhlenhake, Wasilla; 145 — Aengus Bancroft, Glennallen; 152 — Bechler Metcalf, Soldotna; 160 — Michael Lucas, Holy Rosary; 170 — Elliot Merriner, Grace Christian; 182 — Caden Gerlach, Glennallen; 195 — Byron Dunham, Kenai; 220 — Bean Heather, Barrow; 285 — Dylan Jackson, Houston.

Pool A team standings:

1. Houston, 2. Kotzebue; 3. Soldotna; 4. Barrow; 5. Grace Christian; 6. Anchorage Christian.

Pool B team standings:

1. Wasilla, 2. Redington, 3. Seward, 4. Houston JV, 5. Valdez.

Pool C team standings:

1. Unalaska, 2. Kenai, 3. Glennallen, 4. Vozenesenka, 5. Nikiski.