Valley wrestlers find stiff competition in Reno

WASILLA — A half-dozen Mat-Su Valley athletes competed in the Reno Tournament of Champions wrestling tourney in Reno, Nev., over the weekend.

Senior Jacob Marshall, and sophomores Abe Fox, Cole Miller, Tyler Adams and Caleb Pempek, represented the Wasilla Warriors in the tourney that annually attracts top high school wrestlers from across the country.

Palmer senior Jered Kemp also wrestled in the tourney. Fox and Pempek each finished 2-2 in the tourney.

Fox, an Alaska state runner-up at 103 in 2008, won his first two matches before falling 14-6 to the top seed of the 112-pound bracket, Josh Walker of Tulsa Union (Okla.) High School.

Fox pinned Marty Mazzara, of Bishop Gormon (Nev.) in the first round, and beat Morgan Sweat, of Wasatch (Utah), 10-7 during the second round.

Fox lost by major decision in his first consolation match.

Pempek needed only 42 seconds to pin Brandon Bertsch, of Alamosa (Colo.), in the first round of the 152-pound bracket.

Pempek lost his second round match, but rebounded to score a 59-second pin of Pleasant Valley (Pa.) High’s Brett Gearhart in his first round of consolation action.

Miller and Marshall each finished 1-2 during the two-day tournament. Adams and Kemp were both 0-2.

The Valley wrestlers were among 35 Alaska athletes to make the trip to Reno. Five placed in the top-eight.

East Anchorage senior Nathan Hoffer, who earned his fourth straight 4A state title earlier this month, reached to the finals of the 140-pound bracket and finished second.

Kotzebue’s Jared Miller finished sixth at 171. Another Jared Miller, Dillingham’s 103-pounder, finished seventh.

Chugiak’s Ben Sullivan (135) was also seventh, while brother Grant (145) finished eighth.