Warriors take tourney

SOLDOTNA -- The Wasilla Warriors scored 190 points in the teams standings to win the annual North South Wrestling Tournament in Soldotna over the weekend.

Area coaches claim that the tourney is one of the key events of the season and teams and wrestlers can often judge where they stand in the state rankings.

Four Warrior grapplers won their respective weight classes in the event. Corey Crane defeated West High's Jared Solberg to win the 152-pound title. Senior Abe Salmon scored a 14-6 major decision over Soldotna's Colten Goracke in the 160-pound final. Jed Wade continued his quest toward a third state crown in three years with a 17-2 technical fall over Jim Pollack of Homer in the 189-pound final.

In the closest match of the championship round, Wasilla heavyweight Jeramiee Meisler edged East's Angelo Luna 6-4 in overtime.

It was the second overtime match in a week between the two heavyweights. Luna edged Meisler 12-10 in overtime in a dual between East and Wasilla a week ago.

The Warriors had three grapplers advance to the consolation finals. Bo Kittley defeated Nikiski's Lance Penhale 4-0 to take third place at 103. Gunner Brannon took third place at 112 with a 3-0 win over Homer's Louden Greiner.

Palmer High sent a pair of wrestlers into the finals, in the same bracket. Senior Jonah Stewart defeated freshman Trevor Pempek 4-2.

Dominic Bellotte was the lone Colony wrestler to place, finishing fourth in the 215-pound class.

Final results from Soldotna High

Team scores

1) Wasilla 190; 2) Skyview 180.5; 3) West Valley 143; 4) Service 141.5; 5) Kodiak 134.5; 6) Dimond 103; 7) Soldotna 98.5; 8) Homer 89.5; 9) Chugiak 85.5; 10) Bartlett 85; 11) Nikiski 78; 12) North Pole 76; 13) West 42; 14) East 38; 15) tie, Colony and Palmer 33; 17) Kenai 20.

Championship matches

103 pounds — Camron Hagen, Hom, dec. Steve Gauna, Kod, 9-2.; 112 — Eli Hutchison, Sky, p. Josh Huhndorf, Nik, 4:46; 119 — Sean Costello, Kod, dec. Kaylen Baxter, WV, 7-6;125 — Darin Pestrikoff, Dim, dec. Dallas Seavey, Sky, 11-4; 130 — Monte Garroutte, Hom, dec. David Weise, WV, 9-2; 135 — Stan Brown, Chu, m.d. Parke MacDowell, Sew, 13-0; 140 — Jonah Stewart, Pal, dec. Trevor Pempeck, Pal, 4-2; 145 — Jordan Cubbedge, Kod, p. Jake Savely, Sky, 1:19; 152 — Corey Crane, Was, dec. Jared Solberg, West, 7-2; 160 — Abe Salmon, Was, m.d. Colten Goracke, Sol, 14-6; 171 — Ryan Ersland, Ser, dev. Mike Croffutt, Dim, 7-2; 189 — Jed Wade, Was, t.f. Jim Pollack, Hom, 17-2; 215 — Jay Fulk, WV, dec. Greg Marlow, Bar, 3-2; HWT — Jeramiee Meisler, Was, dec. Angelo Luna, East, 6-4, OT.

Third-place matches

103 — Bo Kittley, Was, dec. Lance Penhale, Nik, 4-0; 112 — Gunnar Brannon, Was, dec. Louden Greiner, Hom, 3-0; 119 — Shane Manuel, Bar, m.d. Clark Buffington, Sky, 16-6.

125 — Clifton Ivanoff, Kod, dec. Chris Odom, Was, 5-3; 130 — Brandy Goracke, Sol, dec. Cody Phipps, Sky, 4-3; 135 — Joey Wicker, Nik, dec. Zac Aragon, Sky, 7-1; 140 — Brandon Cleveland, Sky, dec. Billy Duffield, WV, 3-2; 145 — Dan Bailey, Chu, m.d. Wade Wilson, West, 12-3; 152 — Sean Ritchie, NP, dec. Jeff Herron, Bar, 7-5; 160 — Miles Dinstel, WV, p. Jeremy Young, NP, 1:37; 171 — Nathan Moore, WV, m.d. Justin Rainwater, Sky, 9-0; 189 — Ward Kruse, Ser, dec. Keenan Chirhart, Dim, 11-9; 215 — Dennis Bryant, Kod, dec. Dominick Bellotte, Col, 3-2; HWT — Josh Brantley, Sol, dec. Jason Macrander, Ser, 7-0.