Valley wrestlers eager to pin top spots in state tourney

PALMER — Colony head coach Todd Hopkins said the Knights spend their season working toward the opportunity for each wrestler to place at the state tournament.

This weekend, the Knights have 23 chances to place a wrestler at state.

“We just want each individual to reach their goal,” Hopkins said. “Winning a state title and being a state placer. We focus on individuals placing in the top 5 at state.”

Colony, the defending Division I state champs, had 20 grapplers finish in the top 5 of their respective weight class during the Northern Lights Conference Championships last week in Kodiak, and each earned an automatic berth to the state tournament. Another three Knights were added as alternates to the brackets in the Division I class of the ASAA/First National Bank State Wrestling Championships, which start Friday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.

Colony’s cast of talent includes seven wrestlers who earned region titles last weekend in Kodiak. Among them is junior Rush Fannon, a defending state champion, who earned his third straight region title with a victory at 126 pounds in the finals. Caleb Hopkins finished first at 182, capturing his second straight NLC crown. Hopkins is also a two-time runner-up at state. Eric Christy also earned his second straight NLC title, winning the 170-pound class. Juniors Marcus Riedlinger (113) and Trace Severson (145), and freshmen TJ Clapp (98) and Jared Hopkins (106) earned their first career conference titles.

The Knights have another past state champion, senior Sam Sisco, back in the state tournament. Sisco earned a state title as a freshman, but missed the last two tournaments due to injury.

Tarren Gudmunson (98), Rett Gallagher (106), Aidan Ehmann (113), Vincent Cramer (120), Kolby Torres (120), Kayden Payne (126), Quintin Sereyko (132), Brice Lestenkof-Chapman (138), Daniel Colley (145), Cody Gambel (160), Coa Gamble (182), Simon Ganchenko (195), Jamar Toston (195), Jacob Nelson (285) and Brandon Holmes (285) will also compete for the Knights in the state tournament.

Colony also captured its fifth straight region team title.

Palmer has 16 in the state tournament. The group includes a pair of region champions, Jason Watkins (160) and Lucas Santana (285).

Garrett Blydenburgh (98), Tristen Pendergrass (106), Payton Portney (120), Jaden Caple (126), Jacob Dyer (132), Owen Manley (132), Rodney Godwin (145), Hunter (152), Asa Barnes (152), Zion Rogers (160), Levi Farris (170), Jeffrey Glynn (182), Jackson Acree (182) and Christian Kurka (220).

Farris is a defending state champion.

Wasilla, last week’s NLC runner-up, has 15 representatives in the state tournament. Senior Micah Mathis is a three-time defending state champion, and will look for his fourth state title in the 126-pound class. Senior Isaiah Elvsaas, 138 pounds, is also a defending state champion.

Jack Fuller (98), Chandler Jasper (98), Alex Prayner (106), Wesley Fraker (113), Alexander Logsdon (120), Christion Alexander (132), Ethan Kraus (145), Andrue Shepersky (152), Rowdy Bailey (160), Jacob Anderson (170), Jeffrey Palmer (195), Maximus Stokes (220) and Amos Bartlett (220) will also hit the mat for the Warriors in the state tournament.

Palmer junior Teaana Nicholai leads a group of Valley wrestlers in the ASAA girls’ state tournament. Nicholai is the top seed at 132 pounds.

Victoria Palin (106), Zoe Covington (113) and Allison Garcia (145) qualified for Colony, and Kristina Gerasimyuk (113) and Heidi Warner (120) will represent Wasilla.

Wrestling begins Friday at 9 a.m. at the Alaska Airlines Center on UAA’s campus. Championship semifinals are Friday at 5 p.m. Wrestling continues Saturday at 9 a.m. and the championship finals are scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m.

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