USA Wrestlers hold tourney

With the high school Region III wrestling tournament going on just a few miles away at Colony High School Saturday, Wasilla High School hosted a congregation of wrestlers from around the state to participate in the Mid-Valley Wrestling Tournament.

Approximately 350 wrestlers 5 years old and older from 14 wrestling programs throughout the state participated in the Alaska USA Wrestling event, providing one of the last opportunities to tune up before the state competitions.

The two Valley programs - Mid-Valley Wrestling Club and SnowKids -- fared well in the tournament, with Mid-Valley taking first place overall.

Alaska USA Wrestling falls under USA Wrestling, a national organization that promotes the sport of wrestling through local, regional and national events.

"The goal is to provide young wrestlers with educational opportunities of the sport and help them learn skills," said Ed Gravely, who runs the SnowKids program. "Alaska has done extremely well in preparing and progressing kids for national competition."

Wrestlers who are 9 and older will compete at the state tournament April 27 at Bartlett High School in an attempt to advance to the regional tournament in Butte, Mont., and the national tournament in Enid, Okla. next month.

Results from Saturday's tournament:

Team trophies -- 1. Mid-Valley Wrestling Club; 2. Soldotna Whalers; 3. Kodiak

Valley wrestler results:

Bantams (7/8 years old) -- 45-pound weight division: 3. Johan Shuey, SnowKids; 50-pound: 2. Tyler Adams, Mid-Valley; 3. Abraham Fox, Mid-Valley. 55-pound: 1. Mathew Bowden, Mid-Valley. 75-pound and over: 3. Tyler Torrey, Mid-Valley. Midgets (9/10 years old) -- 55-pound: 2. Ken Ealy, Mid-Valley. 75-pound: 1. Christopher Cox, Mid-Valley. 80-pound: 2. Andy Cox, Mid-Valley; 3. Aurora Warrior, Mid-Valley. 95-pound: 2. Tommy Class, SnowKids; 3. Kellee Torrey, Mid-Valley. 103-pound: 3. Jake Schwarzer, SnowKids. 120-pound and over: 1. Raymond Muetz, SnowKids. Novice (11/12 years old) -- 95-pound: 1. Kayla Volin, Mid-Valley. 130-pound: 2. Travis Friesen, SnowKids. School Boy/Girl (13/14 years old) -- 75-pound: 1. Kyle Volin, Mid-Valley. 80-pound: 2. Alan Bartelli, Mid-Valley. 85-pound: 1. Josh Armstrong, Mid-Valley. 100-pound: 2. Levi Fox, Mid-Valley. 105-pound: 2. Nick Cordova, Mid-Valley. 110-pound: 2. Adrian Latocha, Mid-Valley. 120-pound: 2. Justin Ratcliff, Snowkids. 130-pound: 2. Ceaser Barrera, Mid-Valley. 140-pound: 1. Shane Aldrich, Mid-Valley. 150-pounds: 1. Adam Miller, Mid-Valley. 160-pound: 1. Chuck Carpenter, Mid-Valley. 160 to 180-pound: 2. James Savage, Mid-Valley. 160 to 200-pound: 1. Clifton Banzhaf, Mid-Valley; 2. Jake McKeown, SnowKids. Cadet (15/16 years old) -- 91-pound: 1. Sam Miller, Mid-Valley. 160-pound: 1. Kenny Heaton, Mid-Valley. Juniors FILA (17 through high school age) -- 140-pound: 1. Jesse Belgarde, Mid-Valley.