Valley teams boast top seeds going into NLC Championships

PALMER — Only about 11 points separated defending champion Wasilla and runner-up Colony in the Northern Lights Conference Championships team standings last season. Both schools are expected to take another run at a region title. But there’s a chance it could be more than a two-horse race when the 2014 NLC Championships begin Friday at noon at Colony High School.

“It should be a good battle,” Wasilla head coach Shawn Hayes said earlier this week. “Colony’s looking tough. We’re pretty tough. Kodiak’s in there. Kenai’s numbers are up. (Palmer) should have some tough wrestlers back from injury.”

Wasilla, Colony and Palmer combine to boast 21 of 30 No. 1- and No. 2-seeded wrestlers in the 15 weight classes. Colony leads the group with five No. 1 seeds and four second-seeded wrestlers. Bryce Adams (98), Chase Booth (113), Robert Haan (138), Kody Nash (160) and Riley Fredrickson (182) all earned top seeds for the Knights.

Dawson Nash (132), Spencer Adams (145), Kamber Lucas (152) and Logan Conway (170) are seeded No. 2.

Ian MacKenzie, a defending region champion, is seeded No. 3 at 220.

Wasilla has seven wrestlers seeded in the top 2 of their weight classes. Brandon Abbott (106), Nate McKimson (152) and Chance Boatman (170) are top seeds in their respective classes. McKimson is a defending region and state champion.

Dillon Simpson (98), Berit Sturge (106), Weston Wall (138) and Quace Wright (220) are seeded second. Wright is a defending state champion.

Palmer has a pair of grapplers with top-2 seeds. Mason Cochran (132) and Ben Button (220) are both seeded at the top of their weight class. Cochran is a defending region and state champion. Defending region champion Brian Thompson is seeded No. 2 at 285. Hunter Molesky (160) and Caleb Deemer (195) also earned second seeds for the Moose.

Wrestling begins Friday at noon at CHS with the first round, championship quarterfinals and first round of consolation matches. Championship semifinals are slated for Friday at 6 p.m. Championship finals are slated for Saturday at 1 p.m.