Valley grapplers excel in state freestyle tourney

JEREMIAH BARTZ

Frontiersman sports editor

The Alaska State Freestyle Championships had a distinct Valley flavor.

Fourteen grapplers from the three local youth wrestling clubs won their weight class, and 82 Valley wrestlers placed in the top six.

Ten athletes in the Tri-Valley Wrestling Club won first-place medals, and the Vikings earned the team title.

"I was pleasantly surprised," Tri-Valley coach Fred McKinney said.

McKinney said he thought his athletes would fare well, but the performance exceeded all expectations. He said there are about 50 athletes currently in the Tri-Valley program, and 25 of them placed in the top six of the event. Finishing in the top six of each bracket, earns wrestlers the opportunity to compete in a regional freestyle wrestling championship later in the month. That tourney, held in Washington, is one step away from the national event.

Aaron Boss (89 pounds), Josh West (105), Alan Bartelli (112), Nick Perkins (130), Hollan Gravely (135), Cody Dishon (189) and Richard Light (275) each won their division in the cadet

bracket.

Boss actually had to win twice to earn his title in the 89-pound bracket. Boss defeated Luke Shelley, of the Anchorage Christian Schools club team, 3-1 in the first match, but had to re-wrestle Shelley because of a coaches' protest. In the second match, Boss posted a 2-0 victory.

Tri-Valley's Ryan Olivera defeated teammate Zach Tomco in the 163-pound class of the open bracket.

Ryan Hogan placed second for Tri-Valley in the 125-pound class of the junior bracket.

Fifteen members of the Mid Valley Wrestling Club advanced to the tournament finals.

Jedidiah Diederich (65) and Sawyer Root (80) placed first for Mid Valley in the midget division. Teammate Abraham Fox won the 65-pound class of the novice bracket.

Alex Spangler (50) and Peyton Hickerson (75) finished second in the bantom class. Shannon Carpenter (65), Simon Root (75) and Robert Pritchett (95) placed second in the midget division.

Tyler Adams (70) and Tyler Torrey (130) earned second in the novice class.

Mitchell Slater (130) placed second in the school boy division, and Clinton Banzhoff (215) finished second in the juniors bracket.

Nine wrestlers from the Snow Kids Wrestling Club advanced to the final round.

Charles Coisman earned first place in the 70-pound class, and Jess McKee won the 145-pound class of the school boy bracket. Robert Wensel finished first in the 85-pound bracket of the novice division.

Andy Bernowski finished second in the 40-pound class of the pre-bantom division. Mathew VanderMartin (55) and Chance Boatman (70) finished second in the midget class.

Kyle Boss finished second in the 95-pound class of the novice division.

Matthew Limer (120) and Eric Fan (185) finished second in the school boy class.