The Wrangell Wolves, the high school wrestling team, competed at the ACS Denali Auto Glass Invitational tournament in Anchorage last weekend. There were 55 teams present for the tournament. Assistant Coach Jack Carney said that the ACS
tournament is one of the largest for 3A schools in the state. He said that the tournament is a good way for other teams to size up their competition and get a feel for how they will be seeded in the state tournament at the end of the season. He added that his team received a lot of compliments at the tournament, and it was clear that their program was respected by others.
“Every time that red singlet goes out onto the mat, people know we’re going to give 110 percent,” he said.
Not only did Wrangell take seventh place out of all these competing schools, but six players also took the top three positions in their brackets.
Ryan Rooney took first place in the 103 weight bracket. He beat Risen Gill Seyer from Houston High School, John Harris from Grace Christian School, and Colton Ewers from Sitka High School. He also won against Landon Smith, from Bethel High School, in the final match.
Dillon Rooney and Liana Carney both placed second in the 189 weight and 112 weight girls brackets. Rooney wrestled his way through the semifinals, but lost in the final match to Caden Gerlach, from Glennallen High School. Liana Carney also fought her way to the final match, but was beaten by Starr Erikson from Nome High School.
Three other wrestlers took third place in their brackets, as well. Jonah Comstock lost in the quarterfinals of the 112 weight class to Darius Tilden, from Dillingham High School, but he was able to beat him in the third place match after wrestling in several concession rounds. Hunter Wiederspohn was beaten in the semifinals by Dillon Chaney of Dillingham High School, in the 152 weight class, but was able to take third place after beating Elden Cross from Nome High School. Elizabeth Johnson also lost in the quarterfinals of the 135 girls bracket, to Dana Woolery from Hutchison High School, but made it through several concession rounds to beat Victoria Haakenson from South Anchorage High School.
The Wrangell Wolves will have a few weekends to catch their breath, now. Jack Carney said that a home game against
Craig and Petersburg is being planned for the weekend after Thanksgiving. Their next out of town tournament will take place in Sitka from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1. After that, the team will move on to regionals and state. Carney said that the team is looking ahead to the end of the season and is working hard to prepare.
“We’ve got five weeks to get ready for that state tournament,” he said.
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