Eight wrestlers finish in top three positions in Juneau tourney

The Wrangell Wolves wrestling team had eight of their wrestlers finish in top three positions at last weekend's tournament in Juneau. It was the first bracketed tournament of the season, according to Assistant Coach Jack Carney.

Wrestlers were divided by their weight class and fought to advance in the brackets. Ryan Rooney and Jonah Comstock took first and second place, respectively, in the Boys Varsity 112 bracket. Fenton Jim took second place in the Boys Varsity 135 bracket. Hunter Wiederspohn took first place in the Boys Varsity 160 bracket. Jake Eastaugh took third place in the Boys Varsity 171 bracket. Dillon Rooney took third place in the Boys Varsity 215 bracket. Liana Carney took first place in the Girls Varsity 125G bracket. Elizabeth Johnson took third place in the Girls Varsity 160G bracket.

Carney pointed out that team member Liana Carney fought above her weight class at the Juneau tournament. She was originally supposed to go against other girls in the 112 weight bracket, but none besides her showed up. So, she wrestled in 125G bracket.

"She wrestled girls about 12 pounds heavier than her, and she came out with a win," Carney said.

He also said that three of his wrestlers beat opponents they had lost to in the past, which he said is a very impressive feat. Eastaugh, Jim, and Wiederspohn each beat wrestlers that they had lost to in previous tournaments. Carney added that each win occurred within the final seconds of the matches, which showed how his wrestlers did not give up.

"We had some really tough matches," he said. "It's hard to beat someone you lost to before."

The wrestling team will be heading to Ketchikan for another tournament this weekend.