Valley wrestlers pin NLC titles

KODIAK — The Kodiak Bears wanted to be more than just the tournament host. Now, the Bears are champions.

Kodiak upset defending region and state champion Wasilla to win the team title of the Northern Lights Conference Championships at Kodiak High School on Saturday.

Kodiak finished with 304.5 points to win its first region wrestling title since 1992. Wasilla was the runner-up with 274.5 points, and Palmer finished third at 197.5.

The Warriors crowned five individual champions, the most of any program in the six-team conference. Abe Fox (120 pounds) and Tyler Adams (145) both won for the second straight year. Nate McKimson (138), Austine Gonzalez (195) and Adam Akelkok (220) won their first region titles.

Wasilla placed eight wrestlers in the finals. Andrew Shannon (113), Bryce Serna (138) and Ryan Pomrenke (285) finished second for the Warriors.

Nine Valley grapplers brought home gold.

Palmer scored a pair of individual champs en route to its third-place finish. Nate Pempek was first at 126 and Brian Thompson upset the top-seeded Pomrenke at heavyweight.

Fourth-place Colony, which finished with 191.5 points in the team standings, also had a pair of individual winners and five in the finals.

Sawyer Root won in overtime to finish first at 152. Simon Root placed first at 160. Spencer Adams (126), Ian MacKenzie (195) and Ty Farber (220) advanced to the finals and placed second.

Three Valley grapplers needed overtime to win their titles. Fox, a defending NLC and state champion, fought off a tough effort by Kodiak’s Francis Llorente and won 3-2 in double overtime. Sawyer Root upset the host Bears’ top seed, Kevin Lepola, 8-6 in overtime at 152. Thompson was able to get a takedown in overtime to edge Pomrenke 3-1.

Adams and Kenai’s Ellery Steffensen shared most outstanding wrestler honors. Adams pinned Soldotna’s Auston Tennis late in the second period of the 145-pound final. Steffensen pinned Kodiak’s Cameron White.

Kodiak’s Sean Costello was named coach of the year.

Bartlett is the host of the ASAA/First National Bank 4A State Wrestling Championships, which start Friday in Anchorage.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com and follow him at twitter.com/matsu_sports.

Northern Lights

Conference Championships

Friday and Saturday, Kodiak High School

Team standings:

1. Kodiak 304.5; 2. Wasilla 274.5; 3. Palmer 197.5; 4. Colony 191.5; 5. Kenai 94.5; 6. Soldotna 89.

Championship finals:

106 — Andrew Caballa, Kod, m.d. Hope Steffensen, Ken, 11-3. 113 — Levi Fried, Kod, d. Andrew Shannon, Was, 3-1. 120 — Abe Fox, Was, d. Francis Llorente, Kod, 3-2, 2 OT. 126 — Nathaniel Pempek, Pal, d. Spencer Adams, Col, 12-6. 132 — Ellery Steffensen, Ken, p. Cameron White, Kod, 3:13. 138 — Nate McKimson, Was, inj. def. Bryce Serna, Was. 145 — Tyler Adams, Was, p. Auston Tennis, Sol, 3:58. 152 — Sawyer Root, Col, d. Kevin Lepola, Kod, 8-6, OT. 160 — Simon Root, Col, d. Kade Foust, Sol, 9-2. 170 — Kerry Powers, Kod, t.f. Chris Parsons, Kod, 18-3. 182 — Charlie Johnson, Kod, d. Troy Strieff, Sol, 14-10. 195 — Austin Gonzalez, Was, d. Ian MacKenzie, Col, 8-2. 220 — Adam Akelkok, Was, p. Ty Farber, Col, 3:57. 285 — Brian Thompson, Pal, d. Ryan Pomreke, Was, 3-1, OT.

Third/fourth

106 — Brandon Abbott, Was, d. Mason Cochran, Pal, 5-4. 113 — Wade Booth, Col, p. Jay-Ar Small, Kod, 1:30. 120 — Eddy Burris, Kod, d. Shannon Carpenter, Was, 7-3. 126 — Jared Chavez, Sol, p. Gabe Burns, Kod, 1:37. 132 — Eli Fouch, Pal, d. Blake Marks, Was, 2-1. 138 — Devon Carter, Ken, d. Collin Bendixen, Pal, 15-8. 145 — Luke Huen, Pal, inj. def. Reuben Ivanoff, Kod. 152 — Branden Canete, Kod, d. Christian Lowe, Was, 11-5. 160 — Josh Yavorsky, Kod, m.d. Matt Aho, Ken, 13-2. 170 — Brad Smithwick, Ken, inj. def. Slade Storud, Pal. 182 — Alex Fuller, Was, d. Caleb Nielson, Pal, 3-1. 195 — Logan Owens, Kod, p. Ben Button, Pal, 3:22. 220 — Cole Frohling, Pal, p. Matthew Olsen, Kod, 1:33. 285 — Mua Sega, Kod, d. Justin Booth, Col, 10-6.

Fifth/sixth

106 — Leo Cruz, p. Soren Simpson, Col. 113 — Donovan Ellibee, d. Elijah Hall, Was. 120 — Aaron Molesky, Pal, inj. def. Justin Gentz, Pal. 126 — Napolean Media, Col, win by forfeit, Aaron Troxell-Tom, Ken. 132 — Kamber Lucas, Col, p. Wyatt Nelson, Was, 1:21. 138 — Hunter Molesky, Pal, d. Justin Goff, Kod, 7-0. 145 — Jeremy Warzewick, Col, p. Daniel Medina, Pal, 3:53. 152 — Mitchell Rilatos, Was, inj. def. AJ Gentz, Pal. 160 — Charles Mincher, Was, d. Derrek Deal, Kod, 11-5. 170 — Hayden Seltenreich, Was, p. Andrew Knowles, Col, 1:22. 182 — Seth Root, Col, p. Tyler Brown, Ken, 2:54. 195 — Tyler Seims, Was, inj. def. Joel Ryno, Pal. 220 — Andrew Pettit, Was, p. Bigley, Kod. Leo Sega, Kod, p. Mitchell Daigle, Col.