Valley wrestlers compete in Washington tournament

WASILLA — In December, Colony High’s Rush Fannon, Robert Haan, Caleb Hopkins and Levi Hopkins, and Wasilla’s Dillon Simpson wrestled in Alaska’s 4A state finals. Earlier this month, each had the chance to face some of the top wrestlers in the Pacific Northwest.

The group, which also included Colony’s Vincent Cramer, a third-place finisher at state, competed in the Gut Check Challenge in Bremerton, Washington. Three of the Valley grapplers — Haan, Caleb Hopkins and Levi Hopkins — placed in the tournament, which included wrestlers from Washington, Oregon, Alaska and British Columbia, Canada.

“What the kids enjoyed was every match was a tough match,” Colony High head coach Todd Hopkins said earlier this week.

Hopkins said he learned about the tournament last year on a past trip to Washington for a freestyle tournament. Hopkins said a coach in the area was putting together a tournament that would feature a number of the top wrestlers form the Pacific Northwest.

“Only state placers can qualify,” Hopkins said of the Gut Check. “It’s a high-quality tournament.”

Since Alaska’s prep wrestling season ends in December, Hopkins said it would be tough to bring an entire team to the tournament. But the group of six wanted to make the trip, and all enjoyed some success in the touranament that featured 64-man brackets in eight of the 15 weight classes.

Haan was the top placer in the group, finishing third in the 195-pound class. Haan pinned each of his first three opponents in the first round. In the semifinals, Santos Cantu of Sprague High in Salem, Oregon, edged Haan 4-3. Haan rebounded to beat Ben Broselle of Ferndale High in Ferndale, Washington 8-5 in the third-place match.

Haan was a 4A state champion in 2015 and placed second in 2016.

Caleb Hopkins, a 4A runner-up in each of the last two seasons, finished sixth in the 160-pound bracket. Hopkins won his first three matches, before falling to Dante Springsteen of Bethel High in Spanaway, Washington, 9-2. Hopkins wrestled into the fifth-place match where he was edged by Ketner Fields of University Place, Washington, 2-0.

Levi Hopkins, a 4A state champion in 2015 and runner-up in 2016, finished 7th in the 138-poound class. His first match of the tournament came against a familiar foe. After a first-round bye, Hopkins met Simpson, who earned his first state title for Wasilla in December, in the second round. Hopkins scored an 11-2 win.

Hopkins won his first three matches. Brahm Trujillo of Auburn Mountainview High in Auburn, Washington, edged Hopkins 2-0 in the quarterfinals. Hopkins advanced to the seventh-place match where he beat Ben Basden or Port Angeles High in Port Angeles, Washington, 4-2.

Before the loss to Hopkins, Simpson opened his tournament by pinning Rece Quintana of Kamiakin High in Kennewick, Washington, in the first round. After the loss to Hopkins, Simpson won three straight before taking another loss.

Fannon, who earned his first career state title in December, advanced to the quarterfinals. Fannon won his first two matches by pin, but was forced to bow out of the tournament after re-aggravating a past injury.

Cramer earned three wins in the tournament at 106 pounds. Cramer finished third in state in December.

Todd Hopkins said overall it was a great experience for the local athletes. He said he recommends those interested in pursing wrestling in college to attend tournaments outside Alaska if possible.

“I think if it’s something they want to do in college, they need to go Outside and wrestle,” Hopkins said.

Alaska was also represented in the Gut Check by the Homer Mariners. Homer took a squad to the tournament, and placed 11th in the team standings. Jared Brant was the lone Alaska athlete in the finals, finishing second in the 138-pound class.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.