Teeland Titans continue terrific run

FAIRBANKS — Alaska high school wrestling’s top prize has lived in the Mat-Su Valley for nearly a decade.

Wasilla and Colony have combined to win the last nine 4A state championships, establishing an era of dominance nearly unheard of at the high school level. But local middle school programs have taken it a step further — one program in particular.

Teeland Middle School used 249 total points to win the Tanana Invitational, the unofficial middle school state championships, in Fairbanks last weekend. The title is the Titans’ fifth since 2004 and marks the school’s eighth consecutive top-2 finish. It’s also the 18th straight year that a Valley team has won the team title at Tanana, a streak that dates back to Palmer Junior Middle School’s victory in 1994.

Colony Middle, Wasilla Middle and PJMS have all had their time in the Alaska middle school wrestling spotlight, but Teeland has boasted a dominant program since the school opened its doors in 2001.

After finishing ninth in 2002 and fourth in 2003, the Titans have not finished lower than second at Tanana. The Titans have become a top-notch feeder program for both Colony and Wasilla, high school teams that have each won four straight state titles within the last nine years.

While wrestlers have come and gone, it’s the coaching staff — head coach Bill Booth and assistants David Childs and John DePriest — that have remained the constant. Most pass the praise right to those coaches, Booth in particular.

“(Wrestling) is Bill’s passion and he shares it with the kids,” Childs said earlier this week. “He celebrates their success and feels their pains. He gives a lot to the program. For him it’s never been about the stipend, it’s been about the kids.”

Teeland has never had a wrestling team with fewer than 60 athletes and has had as many as 90 on the squad. Childs said much of that is due to what Booth has brought to the program.

“He’s built a dynasty here,” Childs said.

Booth quickly gives credit to his athletes.

“Some of it’s luck,” Booth said of reasons for the success. “Mostly, I’ve had great kids and great support from the staff and the administration.”

Booth said the opportunity to coach alongside Childs and DePriest for the life span of the program has been key. The coaching staff became stronger with the addition of first-year mentor Chad Aliniva.

“He stepped right in; a perfect fit,” Booth said.

Teeland had 70 wrestlers this season and took 40 to the state tournament, simply because the school couldn’t afford to rent two buses, Booth said.

Teeland won its fifth title last week despite not crowning an individual champion. Even though the Titans didn’t have one wrestler finish first, six placed second and 17 finished in the top-8.

The top Teeland wrestler in each of the 17 weight classes — the designated point scorers — all won at least one match. That is what has Booth particularly impressed about this team. The top wrestler in 15 of the 17 classes won at least two matches for Teeland.

“This truly is a team effort,” Booth said.

Bryan McKimson (90 pounds), Kamber Lucas (121), DJ Morrow (127), Blake Marks (133), Sawyer Root (148) and Mitch Dagle (260) each wrestled in the finals and placed second for the Titans.

The top 3 in the team standings featured a trio of Valley teams. Colony Middle finished second and PJMS, the 2010 team champ, was third.

A pair of Colony Middle wrestlers advanced to the final. Matt Vandermartin won the title at 95 pounds and Bryce Adams finished second at 75.

Third-place Palmer crowned three champions. Justin Gentz (110), Joey Bernowski (115) and Joel Ryno (174) all won their weight classes.

Andrew Shannon finished first at 100 pounds to lead sixth-place Wasilla Middle. Pat Inglet was second at 105 for WMS.

Tanana Invitational

March 4-5, Fairbanks

Team scores:

1. Teeland 249; 2. Colony 194; 3. Palmer 168.5; 4. North Pole 166; 5. Tanana 144.5; 6. Wasilla 130; 7. Eielson 125; 8. Soldotna 110.5; 9. Kodiak 102; 10. Gilson 90.5; 11. Nome 90; 12. Bethel 77; 12. (tie) Kotzebue 77; 14. Anchorage Christian School 75; 15. Wendler 70; 16. Kenai 66; 17. Nikiski 60; 18. Randy Smith 59; 19. Dillingham 52.5; 20. Ryan 48; 21. Houston 44; 22. Glennallen 39; 23. Dzanti’l Heeni 31.5; 24. Noorvik 25; 25. Floyd Dryden 24; 26. Academy Charter 18; 27. Grace Christian 9; 28. Haines 5.

Championship final:

75 pounds — G. Shack, Anc d. B. Adams, Col 7-2; 80 — S. Hutchison, Sol d. M. Amico, Anc 6-3; 85 — P. Steffensen, Ken d. A. Gray, Nome 4-1; 90 — M. Glover, Anc d. B. McKimson, Tee 1-0; 95 — M. Vandermartin, Col d. J. Malnoske, Anc 7-6; 100 — A. Shannon, Was d. C. Eide, NP 4-1; 105 — Z. Ritchie, Anc m.d. P. Inglet, Was 13-4; 110 — J. Gentz, Pal p. L. Dosser, RS 4:29; 115 — J. Bernowski, Pal p. G. Eakin, NP 1:53; 121 — J. Chavez, Sol p. K. Lucas, Tee 0:35; 127 — E. Booshu, Nome m.d. D. Morrow, Tee 17-4; 133 — E. Steffenson, Ken p. B. Marks, Tee 0:18; 140 —J. Cross, Nome p. S. Hurch, Eiel 1:26; 148 — B. Garung, Anc d. S. Root, Tee 7-4; 160 — C. Riddal, Nik d. K. Powers, Kod 6-2; 174 — J. Ryno, Pal d. L. Johnson, Nik 10-9; 260 — K. King, Wen p. M. Dagle, Tee 0:45.

Third-place:

75 pounds — D. Simpson, Tee d. E. Meyer, FD 4-3; 80 — L. Erikson, Nome m.d. G. Maslen, Glen 11-0; 80 — T. Norris, Gil p. S. LeMay, ACS 0:56; 90 — N. Ollum, ACS d. C. Frazier, NP 8-4; 95 — D. Styer, Tan d. K. Dunlap, Eie 4-2; 100 — L. Fried, Kod .d. W. Gilroy, ACS 11-2; 105 — A. Craig, Sol d. L. Reed, Col 8-6; 110 — D. Holtry, NP p. S. Wegner, Gil 2:03; 115 — R. Poland, Tan wby G. Wollmann, NP 1:56; 121 — D. Jutlia, NP p. W. Nelson, Was 3-1; 127 — T. Phillips, Eie d. S. McAdams, Col 3-1; 133 — J. Jenson, UA p. T. Frank, Eie 2:54; 140 — G. Nelson, Kot d. B. Hoppough, Tan 7-5; 148 — G. McSharry, Anc d. L. Conway, Col 4-3; 160 — Z. Doan, Col d. A. Martinez, Tan 4-2; 174 — K. Queja, Wen p. J. Wender, Gil 3:29; 260 — T. Scott, ACS d. J. Martinez, RS 9-5.

Fifth-place:

75 pounds — J. Virgin, Glen wbf K. Chamberlin, Col; 80 — L. Albrecht, Was p. G. Hoffman, Bet 1:53; 80 — J. Williams, Bet p. M. Ellibee, Col 0:30; 90 — S. Dolan, Eie m.d. B. Evans, Bet 10-0; 95 — K. Savo, Dil wby P. Michelleto, ACS; 100 — J. Felko, Anc p. G. Arnold, Anc 0:50; 105 — B. Bray, Anc d. J. Jenkins, NP 9-7; 110 — C. Booth, Col d. A. Olsen, Bet 8-5; 115 — H. Foster, Kod m.d. J. Sierra, Wen 14-0; 121 — J. Roelman, Kot d. J. Ruffing, Tee 1-0; 127 — A. Hodges, NP p. C. Walker, Tan 1:32; 133 — E. Cannon-Rogers, p. E. Damon, Sol 0:53; 140 — D. Bendixson, Pal wbf T. Tulare, Anc; 148 — C. Carter, Tan p. D. Nanook, Kot 1:24; 160 — T. Barclay, Hou p. Z. Rockstead, Was 2:56; 174 — B. Bulton, AC p. D. Laporte, Hou 0:14; 260 — K. Knighten, Col p. Q. Bowdre, RY 1:22.

Seventh-place:

75 pounds — J. Hunt, Tee m.d. W. Lennon, Eie 15-5; 80 — B. Son, Eie p. B. Sturgeo, Tee 0:24; 80 — M. Banks, Kot m.d. A. Newland, Tee 12-3; 90 — J. Glover, Anc m.d. B. Wnder, Gil; 95 — D. Cazier, Eie m.d. J. Valdez, Kod 11-1; 100 — R. Pellumbi, Bet d. R. Hartley, Tan 4-0; 105 — S. Woods, Kot p. C. Charlie, Bet 1:53; 110 — J. Homer, Nome p. D. Nardi, AC 1:53; 115 — C. Nash, Tee d. M. Torres, Tee 5-1; 121 — H. Nelson, Kod wby W. McGann, Pal; 127 — E. Schumaker, NP p. M. Javier, Kod 0:59; 133 — M. Gardner, Dil wby T. Mallock, Tee; 140 — T. Larson, Tee d. H. Andrist, Col 9-4; 148 — T. Perez, Tan p. R. Crooks, Eie 1:50; 160 — T. Olson, Tee p. C. Howard, Tan 0:29; 174 — P. Wrobel, RS K. Hinds, Tee 5-0; 260 — J. Johnson, Pal p. R. Johnson, DZ 1:43.