Wrangell’s high school wrestlers concluded their last regular tournament of the season strongly, with a couple of first placements and more than a few second- and fourth-placements in Sitka last weekend.
“It went very well,” said Coach Jeff Rooney afterward.
The Wolves’ wins put them in contention with Craig and Mount Edgecumbe for the 2A Region V Tournament this weekend, where individual wrestlers will have to land in the top-four of their weight classes to proceed to State in Anchorage next week.
“We’re right up there,” said Rooney. “They’re looking really tough. We’re hoping for some high placements.”
Last year’s team ended up taking 10 students to State, and the team finished seventh of 61.
Chet Armstrong took first place for the 182-pound bracket after landing a string of pins on his opponents.
In the 126-pound class, teammate Ian Jenson also took first place. After two byes he managed a pin in 1:42 in the third round, and finished his final two matches by fall in 1:19 and 2:52.
JD Barratt took second place for the 106 bracket, winning the first round by pin in 1:24 and the second by 8-4 decision. Barrett was finally pinned by Sitka’s Curt Bartlett after 1:05 in the final.
In the 138-pound bracket, Sam Armstrong took second place. After three pins at 2:00, 2:43, and 1:36, he fell to Jeremy Roberts of Metlakatla in the final by 11-3 majority decision. Teammate Dillon Rooney took fourth place, winning four of six matches.
Darren Shilts took second place for the 170-pound bracket, finishing his first two rounds with pins in under a minute, at 0:52 and 0:43. After a third-round pin at 2:59 he finished in second to Hydaburg’s William Peele by a 5-0 decision. Wesley Scott was knocked out by Peele early on, winning his next match in the consolation with a pin at 1:45, then was knocked out by fourth-placer Abraham Booth from Metlakatla.
Caleb Groshong took second in the 220, placing pins at 0:52 and 2:00, before finishing UTB 3-2 against Kole Lliaban from Metlakatla. Orion Heller finished fourth place in the 120-pound bracket, as did Sig Decker in the 145.
“We had a couple upsets,” the coach recounted. Rooney felt the team performed well though, and after resting up should be ready to head to Petersburg this afternoon for Region V.
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