State wrestling: Knights lead team standings after 1st day; 12 Valley wrestlers earn spots in state finals

WASILLA — Defending state champions and top seeds prevailed. But a trio of No. 6 seeds were among the highlights for the Valley during the first day of the ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships.

Colony senior Simon Genchenko, Colony junior Marcus Riedlinger and Wasilla sophomore Alexander Logsdon, each a six-seed, upset the second and third seeds in their weight class en route to earning spots in the Division I championship finals.

At 195 pounds, Genchenko edged third-seeded Riley Sweet of South Anchorage 9-7 in the quarterfinals and second-seeded Byron Dunham 7-5 in the semifinals. At 113, Riedlinger beat third-seeded Josh Robles 13-7 in the quarters before pinning second-seeded Jahrease Mays of Thunder Mountain the semifinals. Logsdon, in the 120-pounds class, edged third-seeded Niko Mayo of South 4-3 in the finals. In the semifinals, Logsdon beat second-seeded Vincent Cramer of Colony 5-3 in extra time.

The trio is among nine Valley grapplers who earned semifinal wins Friday night at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage. That group also includes a trio of defending state champions, Wasilla senior Isaiah Elvsaas, Colony junior Rush Fannon and Palmer junior Levi Farris.

Elvsaas, a top seed, scored two wins by technical fall and another by major decision at 138 pounds. Fannon, a No. 2 seed, pinned his way into the finals at 126 pounds, while Farris, a No. 3 seed, pinned his way through at 170.

Farris is part of an all-Valley matchup in the finals, facing Colony junior Eric Christy in the championship round. Christy, an undefeated top seed, also pinned his way into the championship match.

Colony senior Caleb Hopkins advanced to the finals for the third straight year. Hopkins, a two-time state runner-up and the top seed at 182 pounds, pinned a pair of opponents Friday and earned another win by technical fall.

Wasilla junior Andrue Shepersky and Colony freshman Jared Hopkins also clinched a spot in the final. Shepersky, a top seed, will wrestle for the title at 152 pounds. Hopkins, a No. 2 seed, advanced to the finals at 106.

The Valley also boasts a pair of representatives in the Division II finals, and another in the girls’ class.

Houston senior Dylan Jackson, an undefeated top seed at 285, pinned his way into his first state title match. Redington freshman James Paris made school history by becoming the first Huskies wrestler to reach the state final. Paris is at 98 pounds.

Colony held the lead in the Division I team standings after the first day, with 210.0 total points, just ahead of Lathrop’s 206.5. Wasilla (107.5) and Palmer (95.5) were fourth in fifth in the standings after the first day.

Wrestling continues Saturday at 9 a.m. and the championship finals are scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.

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

ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships

Friday, Alaska Airlines Center

Division I championship semifinals:

98 pounds — Ad. Concepcion t.f. G. Blydenburg, Pal 19-4; J. Bockert, Lat p. T. Clapp, Col 3:34; 106 — Ae. Concepcioin, Sou t.f. R. Gallagher, Col 21-6; J. Hopkins, Col p. L. Craig, Sol 2:26; 113 — J. Spencer, Lat d. A. Ehmann, Col 7-3; M. Riedlinger, Col p. J. Mays, TM 1:49; 120 — G. Hutchison, Sol p. D. Peterson, NP 5:59; A. Logsdon, Was d. V. Cramer, Col 5-3 TB; 126 — J. Shack, Sou d. M. Mathis, Was 3-0; R. Fannon, Col p. T. Cha, Sou 1:41; 132 — K. Lobe, Lat d. S. Sisco, Col 2-1; B. Linne, Ket d. C. Alexander, Was 9-4; 138 — I. Elvsaas, Was t.f. C. Ott, Lat 15-0; M. Ee, Sou won by inj fft J. Opp, Lat 2;09; 145 — W. Bockert, p. G. Burningham, ER 5:37; S. Martin, Sou d. T. Severson, Col 3-1; 152 — A. Shepersky, Was d. H. Bleakney, Pal 6-1; B. Metcalf, Sol d. W. Story, Lat 4-1; 160 — Z. Tolver, Lat p. J. Anderson, Sou 2:49; J. Nummer, Kod d. J. Watkins, Pal 11-4; 170 — E. Christy, Col p. D. Niebles, Chu 1:30; L. Farris, Pal p. T. Farless, Ser; 182 — C. Hopkins, Col t.f. J. Glenn, Pal 15-0; A. Vreeland, Dim m.d. C. Edwards, Lat 14-4; 195 — B. Antesberger, NP t.f. T. Finley, Lat 20-3; S. Ganchenko, Col d. B. Durham, Ken 7-5; 220 — J. Edwards, Lat d. C. Kurka, Pal 5-4; R. Tupou, TM won by inj fft K. Calderera, Ser 5:49; 285 — P. Vaafuti, West d. H. Saafi, Sou 2-1; J. Faletagoai, Dim p. L. Santana, Pal 1:31.