Strong Roots help Knights grow victories

NIKISKI — If it takes healthy roots to build a consistent, winning program, the Colony has cultivated a team to be watched this prep wrestling season.

The Knights scored an exciting 1-point win over Kodiak 37-26 Saturday to secure first place at the 2012 Peninsula Duals at Nikiski High School, led by Simon, Sawyer and Silas Root, who compiled an impressive 14-1 record over the weekend.

Simon (160 pounds) and Silas (195) both went undefeated in six dual matches over the two-day tournament, while Sawyer (182) had the only hiccup, a 5-1 loss to Sonny Flensburg of Dillingham. But the middle Root made up for that blemish in the first-place match, recording the deciding win, a 15-10 decision over Kodiak’s Kerry Powers.

That final match also included a hint of controversy, as the final 1-point margin in Colony’s favor also included a 1-point penalty against the Kodiak coach for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Along with the Roots, 152-pounder Taylor Mulkins had a strong weekend with a 5-1 record, including two forfeits. He also recorded a 34-second pin of Seward’s Richard Mach early in the tournament, and pinned Jon Levan of Kodiak in the first-place match in 5:31.

Overall, the Knights finished 6-0 in the duals with wins over Bethel 63-13, Skyview 57-21, Seward 77-6, Dillingham 53-14, Palmer 45-27 and Kodiak 37-36.

That win over Palmer would be the only dual loss for the Moose, who finished third with a 59-20 drubbing of West Anchorage in the third-place match. They also beat Bether 48-24, Houston 52-26, Nikiski 49-22 and Kotzebue 36-32.

Returning for another strong year on the mat for Palmer is Luke Heun at 160 pounds. Huen went 4-2 at the duals with his only trip-ups coming to Chardo Elliot of West Anchorage and Simon Root of Colony. In between those losses, Huen was dominating, pinning Arrin Paul of Houston in 1:53, beating Joshua Roetman of Kotzebue and tech falling Chardo Elliot of West Anchorage.

Also getting off to a fast start for the Knights was Caleb Kielsen at 182 pounds, who went 5-1 overall and recorded some of the fastest pins of the duals.

After winning by forfeit against Bethel, he pinned Keith Pual of Houston in 38 seconds and Josh Crouse of Nikiski in 48 seconds.

He followed with a 10-8 decision over Roetman before losing his only match 1-0 to Sawyer Root. Kielsen rebounded in the third-place match with a 1:13 pin of Tevita Tulimu of West Anchorage.

Although Houston didn’t place as a team, one Hawk had perhaps the most impressive performance at the duals. Luke Wagner (220 pounds) went a perfect 5-0, winning all his matches by pin fall.

Overall, the Hawks finished 1-4, beating Unalaska 42-36 and losing to West Anchorage (55-27), Palmer (52-26), Homer (43-26) and Dillingham (63-24).

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

2012 Peninsula Duals

Friday, Saturday at Nikiski

Team finishes

1. Colony, 2. Kodiak, 3, Palmer, 4. West Anchorage, 5. Kotzebue, 6. Skyview, 7. Dillingham, 8. Homer.

First-place Match

Colony def. Kodiak 37-36

Kodiak team score adjusted by -1 point for unsportsmanlike conduct called on the coach.

220 pounds — Ian Mackenzie, C, maj. dec. Tucker Bigley 13-2.

285 — Salalau Sega, K, pinned Mitchell Daigle 3:10.

98 — Terry Jackson, C, pinned Jenny Valdez 3:59.

106 — Soren Simpson, C, dec. Joel Valdez 6-5.

113 — Andrew Caballa, K, pinned Jordan Nero :30.

120 — Jay-ar Small, K, maj. dec. Chance Fannon 10-1.

126 — Eddy Burris, K, dec. Chase Fannon 9-4.

132 — Hayden Foster, K, pinned Ian Burr 2:57.

138 — Spencer Adams, C, win by forfeit.

145 — Cameron White, K, pinned Kamber Lucas 1:20.

152 — Taylor Mulkins, C, pinned Jon Levan 5:31.

160 — Simon Root, C, dec. Bryce Beltran 7-1.

170 — Dakota Wibbe, K, win by DQ over Zachariah Doan.

182 — Andrew Knowles, C, win by inj. def. Joshua Yavorsky.

195 — Sawyer Root, C, dec. Kerry Powers 15-10.

Third-place Match

Palmer def. West Anchorage 59-20

98 pounds — Kavan Weinberger, P, pinned Elissa Gamble 1:15.

106 — Jejomar Briones, W, win by forfeit.

113 — Jesse Sanders, P, pinned Paul Tandy 3:08.

120 — Justin Gentz, P, pinned Kathryn Treder 2:58.

126 — Wyatt Mcgann, P, pinned Randi Magsayo 1:24.

132 — Aaron Molesky, P, win by inj. def. Chris Weidner.

138 — Baille Clifford, P, dec. TJ Limbo 9-4.

145 — Eli Fouch, P, pinned BJ Limbo 3:39.

152 — Nolan Fitzgerald, W, win by forfeit.

160 — Luke Heun, P, tech. fall Chardo Elliot 17-1.

170 — Leroy Elliot, W, dec. Masen Sweinehart 6-1.

182 — Elijah Cannon-Rogers, P, pinned Abraham Faletagoai 1:35.

195 — Caleb Nielsen, P, pinned Tevita Tulimu 1:13.

220 — Slade Storud, P, dec. Mike Hyde 4-3.

285 — Ben Button, P, pinned Tevita Fehoko 3:29.

Fifth-place Match

Kotzebue Def. Skyfiew 54-24

Seventh-place Match

Dillingham def. Homer 39-37

Other notable duals

Palmer def. Houston 52-26

Friday, Round 2

145 pounds — Ryan Radmer, H, pinned Joseph Cantrell 2:45.

152 — Avraam Kalugin, Voznesenka, pinned Misael Martushev, Voznesenka, 1:28.

160 — Luke Heun, P, pinned Arrin Paul 1:53.

170 — Masen Sweinehart, P, tech. fall Sean Lang 16-0.

182 — Caleb Nielsen, P, pinned Keith Paul 0:38.

195 — Slade Storud, P, win by forfeit.

220 — Luke Wagner, H, pinned Ben Button 3:33.

285 — Tate Gariepy, H, win by forfeit over.

98 — Etienne Kinney, H, tech. fall Kavan Weinberger 15-0.

106 — Masami Kageyama, Kodiak, pinned Shyan Horner, H, 1:22.

113 — Aaron Drake, H, dec. Jesse Sanders 6-3.

120 — Double forfeit.

126 — Aaron Molesky, P, tech. fall Cisco Davila 15-0.

132 — Wyatt Mcgann, P, pinned Chance Bogert :34.

138 — Eli Fouch, P, pinned David Roehl :43.

Colony def. Palmer 45-27

Saturday, semifinals

195 pounds — Sawyer Root, C, dec. Caleb Nielsen 1-0.

220 — Ian Mackenzie, C, dec. Slade Storud 6-1.

285 — Ben Button, P, pinned Mitchell Daigle 4:37.

98 — Terry Jackson, C, pinned Kavan Weinberger 3:48.

106 — Soren Simpson, C, win by forfeit.

113 — Jesse Sanders, P, dec. Jordan Nero 7-6.

120 — Justin Gentz, P, dec. Chance Fannon Dec 9-3.

126 — Wyatt Mcgann, P, pinned Chase Fannon 4:56.

132 — Aaron Molesky,P, pinned Ian Burr 2:15.

138 — Spencer Adams, C, tech. fall Baille Clifford 15-0.

145 — Kamber Lucas, C, maj. dec. Eli Fouch 10-1.

152 — Taylor Mulkins, C, win by forfeit.

160 — Simon Root, C, pinned Luke Heun 5:34.

170 — Masen Sweinehart, P, dec. Zachariah Doan 9-7 OT.

182 — Andrew Knowles, C, pinned over Elijah Cannon-Rogers 1:18.