Freshman wrestler Darren Shilts waits for the whistle during the first round of the 132-lb class of the Tom Sims Invitational Friday in Wrangell against Skagway wrestler Trevor Cox. Cox pinned Shilts, who later lost on decision.
Senior Luke Gunderson attempts to roll Mt. Edgecumbe wrestler Thomas Chikigak during the first round of the 138-lb bracket of the Tom Simms Invitational Friday in Wrangell. Gunderson won by decision and wrestled back to the consolation final before falling to Mike File of Petersburg.
Senior Devon Miller attempts to establish hand control Saturday night against Ketchikan's Chris Lerma. Miller pinned Lerma in 38 seconds, the second-fastest pin of the tournament, to win first place in the 132-lb bracket of the Tom Sims Invitational.
In the darkened gymnasium at Wrangell High Saturday evening, a large home crowd waited for wrestler Devon Miller to complete his match.
The crowd didn't wait long. Only 38 seconds in, Miller pinned Chris Lerma of Kake and then walked to the center to have his arm lifted by the referee. It was the fastest pin of the finals round, and the second-fastest pin of the two-day Tom Sims Invitational tournament Oct. 25 and 26.
Miller's rapid victory was one of three accomplishments by the Wolves' wrestlers in the finals. Roger Miller pinned Manny Budke of Hoonah at the 1:30 mark to take first in the 132-lb weight class, and Jeffrey Rooney, Jr. pinned Anthony Peter at the 3:15 mark to take 1st in the 170-lb. bracket.
"It was great," said Wolves head coach Jeffrey Rooney, Sr. "That's what we're striving for. Every match is a championship match."
The team has gradually improved from week to week, the elder Rooney added.
"They're definitely coming into their own," he said. "We got several more meets to come."
Freshman Alisa Heller made it as far as the consolation semi-finals in the 98-lb bracket, senior Alex Cano wrestled back to third in the 126-lb bracket, and freshman Darren Shilts went out on a pin and a decision in the 132-lb bracket. In the 138-lb bracket, senior Luke Gunderson fought his way back to fourth place against Petersburg wrestler Mike File. Sophomore Chet Armstrong pinned his way to third place in the crowded 152-lb bracket to round out the results for the Wolves.
The Wolves finished third behind Craig and Mt. Edgecumbe in the team results, the third such result in three meets. Wrangell wrestlers racked up 102 points, despite fielding the fourth-smallest team at the meet. They trounced fourth-place finisher Petersburg's 88 points.
The Wolves were the second most efficient team on the mattresses this weekend, scoring about 11.3 points for each wrestler they fielded. Only the six-wrestler Hydaburg team – at 16.5 points per wrestler - was more efficient. By comparison, meet winners Craig averaged 9.4 points for each of 14 wrestlers.
Given the earliness of the season, the Wolves neither trumped nor failed to meet expectations, the elder Rooney said.
"For our guys, we're kinda right where we should be," he said. "We got some younger guys who are finally starting to cut loose. I think we're gonna see a few changes in the future. We're just gonna get better and better and better."
Heading into next week's Anchorage Christian School's tournament – which draws wrestlers from across the state of Alaska - the Wolves plan to work on speed and finishing, Rooney added.
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