Thunder Mountain High School freshman Ricky Ramirez squares off with Wrangell junior JD Barratt during the Tom Sims Invitational final round. Barratt won the round by fall in 1:23, clinching first place for the 106 weight bracket.
Caleb Groshong collides with Thunder Mountain senior Cody Weldon during the final round of the 220 weight bracket during Saturday's tournament in Wrangell. Weldon finally finished the extended match in a pin.
Sitka sophomore Kyle England brings down Mt. Edgecumbe junior Royale Lowe in the final round for Saturday's Varsity 113 bracket in Wrangell.
The Wolves wrestling team finished with four first placements Saturday, during the Wrangell-hosted Tom Sims Invitational.
A total of 14 teams from around the region were invited to attend, but high winds and a rough sea before the weekend prevented half a dozen from coming. Sitka, Petersburg, Juneau-Douglas/Thunder Mountain, Hoonah, Haines and Mt. Edgecumbe participated, but Klawock, Craig, Thorne Bay, Metlakatla, Ketchikan and Skagway had to nix their travel plans.
"There's only a few teams here, but we're making the best of it," said Wrangell coach Jeff Rooney.
What was intended to be a packed competition ended up making for a more streamlined tournament, with regular matches taking only a few hours to get through. Rooney said the additional time was made the most of, with wrestlers taking part in a number of round-robin matches Friday, with mix and match exhibition play through Saturday afternoon.
The final round in the spotlight was still held at 7 p.m. as scheduled, and Wrangell students shone with eight top-three placements out of their 10 wrestlers.
"We had some really good matches," said assistant coach Jack Carney.
In the 220 weight bracket, junior Caleb Groshong started out with a rematch against Carl Tupou, a junior from Thunder Mountain. Tupou had bested the Wrangell student twice over the season, but the third time was the charm for Groshong, who won the match with a pin in 4:59. Groshong went on to take second in the tournament, after being pinned by Thunder Mountain senior Cody Weldon in 3:03.
Sam Armstrong finished in third for the crowded 152 weight bracket. He was sent to the secondary early on by bracket winner Kyler Sumauang from Sitka. He went on to win against freshman teammate Hunter Wiederspohn by technical foul before facing Thunder Mountain senior Deven Mason. Armstrong finished the bout with a last-minute throw and a pin in 5:12.
"It was really beautiful," Carney commented.
Freshman Jonah Comstock finished first in the 98 weight bracket, after pinning Thunder Mountain sophomore Connor Norman in 1:08 during the final. Junior Jonathan Barratt likewise placed first for his 106 bracket, after concluding two matches against Thunder Mountain competitors in quick pins, at 1:19 and 1:23. Outgoing senior Dawson Miller placed first for his 160 weight bracket, ending his match with Thunder Mountain senior Alex Ocana by fall in 3:25.
Ian Jenson placed first in the 132 weight bracket after a pair of wins. He ended a semifinal match against Kailer Lindley of Thunder Mountain by fall in 3:08 and then ended the final in a 3:39 pin with Metlakatla senior Leon Evon.
Freshman wrestler Hannah Brown finished in third place for the girls 145 weight bracket. After winning her opening match with a pin in 2:18 she was relegated to the consolation bracket after a 9-3 decision. Brown went on to face teammate Elizabeth Johnson in the final round, winning by fall in 1:45. Johnson placed fourth for the bracket.
Senior-year wrestler Sig Decker took second for the boys 145 weight bracket, ending his first two matches in pins, at 46 seconds and 2:56. The final, against Thunder Mountain senior Sam Nolan, was closely-matched, with Nolan coming out on top by 9-7 decision.
Overall the Wrangell team looks strong heading into Region V this weekend at Mt. Edgecumbe High School.
"I think we're going to have a lot of top placers," Carney predicted. From there, regional winners will be headed to State in Anchorage on December 16 and 17.
During the Tom Sims Invitational, time was taken to highlight the efforts of outgoing senior classmen. The home bout was a final one for Decker, Armstrong, Miller and Darren Shilts, each of whom had been long-standing members of Wrangell's wrestling program.
"I love these guys like
my own kids," Rooney commented, wishing them the best.
He also took time to thank fellow coaches and staff, parents and
volunteers for their efforts in making the program possible. "I've got so much respect for you parents and your kids. It's been a great honor."
Reader Comments(0)