Warriors pin Mustangs in dual

Jan. 21, 2007

By MATT TUNSETH/Frontiersman

WASILLA - Eight Wasilla wrestlers picked up wins to help the Warriors pull out an impressive 46-25 dual meet win over the Chugiak Mustangs Thursday night at Wasilla High School.

Last year's 112-pound state champion Alan Bartelli got things started off on a solid note for Wasilla when he scored a major decision over Chugiak's Grant Sullivan in the first match of the evening at 119 pounds.

Bartelli's win was followed by Mike Chafin's 3-1 defeat of Stephen Kichura at 125 pounds and Danny Lyles' pin of Parker Lennihan at 130 pounds to give Wasilla an early 13-0 lead.

Following the meet, Wasilla coach Shawn Hayes said he hopes the dual win will help the three-time defending state champion Warriors get some momentum going headed into next week's region tournament.

&#8220Hopefully we're peaking at the right time,” Hayes said.

The event was the final regular-season meet for both teams, and was the first loss for the Mustangs in dual competition this season. But Chugiak was without three key wrestlers - Danny Tol, Nolan McBryde and Chaz Johnson - who likely would have made the match much closer.

Still, Mustangs coach Duncan Shackelford wasn't making any excuses after the meet.

&#8220Wasilla is a very good team,” Shackelford said.

John O'Hara broke the Wasilla win streak with a decision over David Muzechuk at 135 pounds, but the Chugiak comeback was quickly thwarted by Duane Carpenter.

Carpenter, who is ranked second in the state in the 135-pound division, elected to wrestle at 140 Thursday. The two-time state runner-up looked very impressive at that weight, easily pinning Derek Henry, the state's fifth-ranked 140-pounder.

Following the match, he said he simply went out and did what he always does - try and have a good time.

&#8220I don't think about who I'm wrestling, I just try and have fun,” he said.

Wasilla increased its lead through the middle weights, picking up wins from Casey Katchinska at 152 pounds and Wesley Gagnon at 171.

The Warriors' James Langendorf provided Hayes with a bit of heartburn midway through the meet, when the Wasilla 160-pounder nearly managed to lose a forfeit.

Langendorf was nowhere to be found when his name was called to receive the win, and had to come rushing down to the gym floor from the track area above just in time not to be disqualified himself. The incident drew laughter from the crowd and a strong rebuke from an unamused coach Hayes.

Chugiak staged a brief comeback attempt in the heavier weights, starting with Cayle Byers' dismantling of Schuyler Roskam at 189.

Roskam kept things close in the first period against the nation's 10th-ranked wrestler, but wore down as the match went on, losing by a fall late in the third period.

Chugiak also got pins from Rory McBride over Jody Serrano at 215 pounds and Dan Paulson over Jed Johnson at heavyweight.

Brooke Nelson iced the win for Wasilla at 103 pounds with a win in the most exciting match of the evening.

Down 7-3 going into the third period, Nelson managed to put Taylor Morris on his back late in the round, then squeeze out a pin with just 43 seconds left on the clock.

&#8220I wasn't about to give up,” Nelson said following her big win.

Nelson said the cheers of the loud home crowd and her family helped her summon the strength needed to pull out the victory.

&#8220That really helps a lot,” she said.

Nelson's win came much to the delight of her older sister, Kendra, who normally starts for Wasilla at 103 pounds but was on the sidelines nursing a thumb injury.

&#8220She did a great job,” Kendra Nelson said of her sister's clinching win.

Wesly Koch finished off the Mustangs with a 5-2 win over Tyler Greensfielder at 112 pounds to give the Warriors their final margin of victory.

Next up for Wasilla is the Region III meet Jan. 26 and 27 at Skyview High School in Soldotna.

The following week, the Warriors will look to defend their state championship at the state meet at Chugiak High School.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@frontiersman.com