Wasilla grapplers win Bob Bailey Invite

EAGLE RIVER -- The 4A prep wrestling season is only two weeks old and the Wasilla Warriors already have two tournament wins.

After winning the Palmer Invitational by a substantial margain last week, the Warriors continue to pile up the points.

The Warriors earned 195 total points to capture the team title of the Bob Bailey Memorial Invitational at Chugiak High School last weekend.

Wasilla moved five wrestlers into the championship round and three won individual titles on Saturday. Allan Bartelli, Sam Miller and Trevor Pempek each won their respective weight class for Wasilla.

Bartelli earned a 12-6 win over Andrew Van Asdell, of Colony, to with the 103-pound crown. Bartelli defeated Van Asdell, a freshman, in the finals for the second consecutive week.

Miller pinned Wes Richards, of Dillingham, with 24 seconds left in the third period to win the 112-pound title.

Trevor Pempek scored a tough 5-4 decision over Dustin Baxter, of West Valley, to win at 152.

Duane Carpenter (130) and Chuck Carpenter (160) also advanced to the finals for Wasilla and placed second.

Mike Trudeau (145) and Ceaser Berrara (135) each finished third.

Hollan Gravely led Colony to a seventh-place finish in the team standings. Gravely, a sophomore, cruised to a 15-1 win in the 125-pound final. Dominick Bellotte defeated fellow Knight James Savage and placed third in the heavyweight

division.

Houston, led by Daniel Harvey, placed 13th in the team standings. Harvey placed second in the 171-pound decision, losing 3-2 in the final match. Matt Gardner placed fifth at 135 for the Hawks.

The Palmer Moose wrestling squad competed in the Homer Invitational wrestling tournament at Homer High School last weekend. Palmer finished fifth in the 11-team tourney.