Wrangell Wolves wrestlers are heading to the state championship tournament this weekend with high hopes. The boys team took first place in Division II competition and the girls finished third in the overall competition at the Southeast high school championships in Sitka on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 12-13.

The Wrangell boys racked up 248 team points, easily outdistancing Sitka, 161; Mount Edgecumbe, 130.5; followed by Metlakatla, Petersburg, Haines, Craig, Southeast Island School District, Skagway, Hoonah and Kake.

Mount Edgecumbe won the girls overall team title with 168 points, followed by Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau-Douglas, Craig, Hoonah, Metlakatla, Sitka, Southeast Island School District and Petersburg.

Wrangell coach Jack Carney’s predictions for the season came true, and then some. The boys and girls teams walked away with multiple individual titles, and Carney noted that the Wolves beat many larger schools during the tournament, including the girls team outscoring Juneau-Douglas and Sitka.

In total, 14 Wrangell wrestlers made it to the finals. Several athletes brought home individual championships.

Junior Jackson Carney maintained his undefeated streak. He took first place in the 145-pound weight class. Sophomore Kourtney Barnes secured a first-place finish in the girls 126-pound weight class. She has only dropped one match all season.

Freshman Everett Edens provided the most pleasant surprise of the tournament. The heavyweight stepped up in the 285-pound weight class. He pinned a competitor who outweighed him by at least 30 pounds. He then pinned a senior in his next match.

“He far exceeded any expectations we could have had,” Carney said. “And now he is a freshman region’s champ in a very competitive weight class.”

Other Southeast champs from Wrangell were Curtis Harriger, at 119 pounds; Ben Houser, 130 pounds; and Cooper Powers, 140 pounds.

The Wolves scored several second-place finishes: Jenna Meissner, at 100 pounds, Hailey Cook, at 114 pounds, and Arabella Nore, at 235 pounds, for the girls; and boys Ryder Ritchie, at 103 pounds; Lennex Gurule, 125 pounds; Ian Nelson, 152 pounds; Gavin Hunt, 160 pounds; and Cody Barnes.

Third-place finishers for Wrangell were Lucas Stearns, Jacoby Hunt and Everett Meissner.

The top three finishers at Southeast are eligible for state.

Carney was pleased overall, but mentioned some matches had questionable officiating.

“There were some serious discrepancies during Jenna Meissner’s match,” he said. “She did an excellent job and maintained control. She had that match won until the ref said that something was illegal and didn’t happen correctly.”

Carney said his wrestlers all have amazing attitudes and work ethic. He is excited for what the future holds next season.

“If you give these kids some guidance and a dream, they can honestly do anything,” he said.

The 14 wrestlers who competed in the finals were: Hailey Cook, Kourtney Barnes, Jenna Meissner, Lennex Gurule, Curtis Harriger, Jackson Carney, Ben Houser, Gavin Hunt, Ryder Ritchie, Cody Barnes, Everett Eden, Ian Nelson, Cooper Powers and Arabella Nore.

Looking ahead to state

The coach believes the boys’ team is poised for a state title. “If these kids do what they’re supposed to do and manage to hit 70% of what I think they will do, we will definitely have a state title next weekend.”

Carney hopes to push at least six or seven wrestlers into the state semifinals. He hopes three or four wrestlers reach the finals. He stressed the importance of good rest and good nutrition before the competition.

“I think we’ve got the largest group going into state,” he said. “But we are going to need some of the freshmen and sophomores to step up next weekend.”

The Wolves will now shift their focus as they travel to Anchorage for the state championships. The two-day tournament will be held at the Alaska Airlines Center on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus.

Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20. Championship finals are scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday.