Valley wrestling teams have high hopes for season

MAT-SU — With nine of 11 placers — including a pair of champions — returning to the mat this season, the Wasilla Warriors feel primed to summit the podium again as the top large-schools prep wrestling squad in Alaska.

After finishing runners-up in the last two state tournaments, the Warriors are focused on winning their fifth team championship since 2003-04.

“The kids are working hard, we have good numbers, and it will be interesting to see how things work out,” said head coach Shawn Hayes.

Wasilla took second place at the 2012-13 tournament, finishing just 3.5 points behind South Anchorage for the title. This season, both squads look primed to ascend the mountain again, as evidenced by their one-two finish at the Lancer Smith Memorial Tournament in Palmer last month. South finished just 1.5 points ahead of the Warriors in that tourney.

“Yeah, it was very close. All the kids are wrestling tough,” Hayes said. “We’re starting to get into shape. The kids are working and we’ll see at the North/South this weekend with just the big schools.

Wasilla crowned a trio of state champs at last season’s state tournament. Bryce Serna, winner at 152 pounds, graduated, but the Warriors have Nate McKimson (145) and Quace Wright (220) back. Other state placers filling out a talented and deep WHS roster include Logan Albrecht (second at 98 pounds), Bryan McKimson (third at 98), Brandon Abbott (fifth at 113), Andrew Shannon (fifth at 120), Ryker Steiner (third at 132), DJ Morrow (sixth at 152) and Billy Schultz (third at 195).

Mark Dobbs, who placed fifth at 182 pounds, also graduated.

One of the reasons for Wasilla’s success is getting athletes to understand that while wrestling is an individual sport, there’s also a team element, Hayes said.

“Our coaching philosophy is to make sure the kids understand it’s more than just them,” he said. “They’re also wrestling for the team, too. If you can get an extra point, that can make a difference. After losing (the Lancer Smith) by 1.5 points, that shows that’s true.”

Although Wasilla seems poised for a strong run at another state title, so is South, Hayes said.

“It’s looking good, but I don’t want to overlook that South has just as many or more state placers coming back,” he said. “We definitely have our work cut out for us.”

Asked if there are any sleepers who could potentially contribute down the stretch for the Warriors, Hayes said he likes his freshman class, but wouldn’t single out any individuals just yet.

“I have quite a few, but I don’t want to name them right now,” he said. “It’ so early to tell, because we’re only a month (into the season). We have some really tough, young freshmen that could be in at the end.”

Palmer Moose

Across the Valley at Palmer High, the Moose are also working hard on the mats, said head coach Grady Powell.

“We’ve got a pretty solid group of seniors, but we’ve got some really good lower classmen, too,” he said. “We’re not as deep as we were last year, but I think our lineup as far as being a tournament team is a little stronger.”

That lineup includes Mason Cochran, who won the 120-pound title, and returning state placers Brian Thompson (second at heavyweight), Caleb Deemer (third at 182) and Aaron Molesky (fifth at 126).

Also returning for the Moose are Hunter Molesky (160), Nathan Pempek (138) and Ben Button (220/heavyweight).

“We’ve got a pretty solid group of seniors, but we’ve got some really good lower classmen, too,” Powell said. “We’re not as deep as we were last year, but I think our lineup as far as being a tournament team is a little stronger.”

Button is one who has already made some waves this season, Powell said. A natural 220-pounder, Button has been wrestling up in the heavyweight division, and already has a victory over the defending state champion.

“He’s just right around 200, but he can tangle with the heavyweights, too,” the coach said. “He’s a contender at 200, too. There are some tough contenders there, but Ben’s no joke.”

Wrestling in the Valley with Wasilla and Colony helps motivate the Moose, Powell said.

“I think we have some improvements to make, but I think we’re going to be right there,” he said. “I don’t think we have the depth to hand with Wasilla or South, but we’re pretty stacked in the heavier weights. I think we’ll be just like we were last year, in a top-5 contender spot. You never know, man. These kids make changes and every week they’re getting better and better.

“Colony, too, those guys are tough. Colony lost quite a few guys from last year, but you can’t ever count those guys out. They always put a good lineup together.”

One of the axioms prep coaches have is they want to reload, not rebuild. And judging by the success of Palmer’s feeder programs, the Moose will have plenty of ammunition in the future, Powell said.

“Our eighth-grade class, this last year they were seventh graders and won a state title at the middle school, so those guys are going to be a great group of kids.”

Colony Knights

Colony rounds out a trio of Valley large-schools programs with a tradition of excellence on the mat. The Knights won four consecutive state titles from 2006-07 to 2009-10, and getting back to the top of that podium is always the goal, head coach Todd Hopkins said.

“We want to be wrestling our best that first week in February,” he said. “The goal is to be competing for a state title. You know you’re not going to win it every year, but you want to be in the running every year. We would like to get back there, and it’s been fun so far.”

Colony finished fifth overall at state last season, and face losing a trio of talented grapplers in the Root brothers, who moved. Sawyer Root pinned his way through the state tournament last year en route to winning the 182-pound title, while brother Simon Root (who graduated) placed fourth at 170. Silas Root was a freshman last year.

Even so, Hopkins likes what the Knights bring to the mat.

“We’ll still have a strong team,” he said. “We’ll be OK.”

That strong team includes state placers Bryce Adams (fifth at 98), Kamber Lucas (fourth at 138), Christopher Ray (fourth at 145), and Ian MacKenzie (runner-up at 220).

MacKenzie wrestled Wasilla’s Quace Wright for the title, and the pair are expected to spar again this season. MacKenzie is out of the lineup right now due to injury, but is expected to return, Hopkins said.

“He’ll be back eventually,” he said, adding that MacKenzie started off well, going 6-0 at the Nikiski duals.

Also returning for the Knights is 152-pounder Wade Booth, who sent a message to the rest of the state by winning his weight class at the Lancer Smith.