Valley wrestlers advance to state finals

Wasilla junior Lydia Taysom found herself as the sixth-seeded wrestler in the girls 145-pound bracket. Taysom’s response? She worked her way to the state finals in dominant fashion.

The junior pinned her first two opponents and scored a win by technical fall over the No. 2 seed en route to the final round during the first day of the ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Taysom — who faces top-seeded Malia Miller of Service in the finals — is one of three Warriors and five Valley grapplers to advance to the girls championship round. Senior McKinley Hafen, the third seed at 165, edged second-seeded Macy Martin of the Fairbanks-based Student Wrestling Development Program 8-6 in the semifinals. Hafen is in the finals for the first time. She was fourth last year. She will meet East Anchorage’s Konya-Ma Bruno, a top seed, in the finals.

Junior Brynlee Lutz continued her undefeated season for the Warriors pinning her way to the finals at 138 pounds. Lutz is a defending state champion, and will face Delta’s Jane Douglas in the finals.

Colony advanced a pair to the girls championship round. Defending state champion Grace Loutzenhiser returns to the finals at 100 pounds. The No. 2 seed will face top-seeded Naomi Keller of Soldotna.

Braelyn Troxell, the No. 3 seed at 120, will face Soldotna's Valerie McAnnally, the top seed, in the finals.

There are three Valley wrestlers in the Division I finals.

Wasilla’s Max Moat, a No. 3 seed, advanced to the championship at 215 pounds. He will meet top-seeded Gage Runnels, of the SWDP, who is undefeated.

Colony sophomore Thor Nelson continued his strong season with two wins by technical fall and another by major decision en route to the finals at 189. Nelson, the No. 2 seed, faces top-seeded undefeated defending state champion Zach Gerlach of South Anchorage.

Redington junior Eben Caulkins will represent the Mat-Su in the Division II finals after upsetting top-seeded Alejander Sanchez of Seward 13-12 in the 140-pound semifinals. Calkins was the fifth seed in the bracket.

The championship finals are slated for Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center.

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