Rooney heads to Region in No. 1 spot

Wrangell High School’s wrestling team took second place at the Bill Weiss Invitational Wrestling Tournament at Ketchikan High School last weekend – with sophomore Jeff Rooney, Jr. taking the No. 1 spot in the 182-pounder class as the 2012 season nears completion.

The tournament at Kayhi featured 17 teams from across Southeast.

Rooney began his run at the top spot by defeating Sam Sergie of Craig with a pin in 44 seconds. Entering the championship round, Rooney took out Kohl Hallman of Ketchikan with a pin in 5:05.

Wrangell’s Devon Miller took 3rd place in the crowded 170-pound field with an early win against Metlakatla’s C.J. Gaube, but lost in the next round to Nate Fousel of Ketchikan in 6-5 final score. The loss took him to the 3rd place bracket where he overcame a tough minute-long match against Mt. Edgecumbe’s Shawaan Jackson-Gamble, ending the round with a pin. Miller then defeated Kayhi’s Robert Williams with a 10-2 majority decision in the finals.

Juneau-Douglas’ Stetson Durand was pinned by Tanner Thomassen in 10 seconds in his first outing on the mat, with Thomassen advancing to the finals where he lost a 4-2 decision to Sitka’s John Davis.

The Wolves will end their regular season Dec. 7-8 at the Region V 1A-3A tournament in Nikiski.

Bill Weiss Invitational

Wrestling Tournament

Ketchikan High School – Nov. 16-17

1 - Ketchikan, 209

2 - Wrangell, 116

3 - Mt. Edgecumbe, 115

4 - Craig, 100

5 - Sitka, 89.5

6 - Thorne Bay, 69.5

7 - Haines, 55

8 - Juneau-Douglas, 52

9 - Metlakatla, 41

10 - Petersburg, 36.5

11 - Kake, 35

12 - Hoonah, 17

13 - Hydaburg, 13

14 – Thunder Mountain, 11

15 - Yakutat, 9

16 - Gustavus, 0, Klawock, 0