Wrangell High School's wrestlers take first at the Region V 2A Tournament in Sitka on Saturday. In the top row: Sig Decker, Dawson Miller, Hunter Wiederspohn and Caleb Groshong. From the bottom left: assistant coach Jack Carney, Hannah Brown, Elizabeth Johnson, Jonah Comstock, Sam Armstrong, JD Barratt, Ian Jenson and coach Jeff Rooney.
Wrangell's wrestlers took first for the 1-3A Boys Region V Tournament in Sitka over the weekend, with nine of the high school team's 10 wrestlers headed to State in Anchorage this week.
In the Girls 1-4A Tournament, freshman Hannah Brown will be headed to State after taking second in the 132 weight bracket. She bested Mikenna Pingayak-Simon from Mt. Edgecumbe in the first round, finishing with a pin in 1:27, then won by fall in 1:23 over teammate Elizabeth Johnson. Brown faced Mt. Edgecumbe junior Andrea Prince in the final round, with Prince winning by 7-0 decision.
Because of her high win percentage over the course of the season, it was decided Brown would be headed to Anchorage this week to compete in the girls tournament.
"It was quite amazing," said coach Jeff Rooney. "We're all very pleased."
Johnson went on to take third place in the bracket, but due to a decision to have only one girl from each 1-4A division participate in this year's state tournament, will not be making the trip to Anchorage.
In the boys tournament, freshman Jonah Comstock beat by fall Mt. Edgecumbe's Gabriel Klushkan in the 98 bracket final, securing his berth at state. Junior JD Barratt likewise took first in the 106 bracket, beating Mt. Edgecumbe senior Kendrick Hoblet by 3 to 1 decision in the final.
"The boy was just on point," Rooney commented.
In the 132 bracket, junior Ian Jenson took first place in a crowded field. He pinned Klawock freshman Ruben Hoppe in 1:40, next won by fall over Petersburg's Alex Worhatch in 3:34, and in the final won on injury time over Mt. Edgecumbe sophomore Leon Evon.
Senior Sig Decker likewise took first on injury time in the final, after opponent and number-one seed James Heppe from Klawock twisted his knee. To get there, Decker pinned Mt. Edgecumbe's Jacob Jametski in 0:37, and Mt. Edgecumbe's Trevor Akelkok in 1:44 in the semifinal round.
Senior wrestler Dawson Miller took first in the 160 weight bracket, opening with a win by fall over Petersburg sophomore Koren Sperl in 3:13. In the final he faced Mt. Edgecumbe senior Shawn Williams, winning by 10-7 decision.
Caleb Groshong took first in the 220 bracket, opening with a win by pin over Mt. Edgecumbe's Kaden Gibbens in 1:28. He next ended a semifinal bout with Metlakatla junior Gabe Nathan by fall in 1:10, then likewise pinned Hydaburg senior Traesean Miramontez in 1:26 during the final round.
Wrangell wrestlers Sam Armstrong and Hunter Wiederspohn took third and fourth in the 152 weight bracket, respectively. The freshman Wiederspohn opened with two wins by pin before being relegated to the consolation group by bracket winner Kyler Sumauang, from Sitka. He went on to win by fall over Sitka freshman Trenton Hammock in 1:48. Senior Armstrong began with two pins before being bested by Petersburg senior Nathaniel Lenhard by 15-4 majority decision. The two teammates then ran a paper bout to see who would make third, with Armstrong coming out on top.
"They wanted to be good sports about it," said Rooney.
Cumulatively, the team garnered 150 points in the tournament, trailing only the much larger Mt. Edgecumbe team at 163.5 but taking first for 2A division teams.
"It was a great season," Rooney commented.
Speaking Monday, Rooney said his students were busy taking finals and finishing up assignments before taking off on Tuesday evening. The Wolves are by now up in Anchorage, participating in the 2016 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Wrestling Championships.
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