Liana Carney pins first place in Anchorage invitational

The Wrangell Wolves wrestling team traveled to Anchorage last weekend to compete in the Anchorage Christian School invitational tournament. Several team members placed in their weight classes, with one taking first.

Senior Liana Carney took first over Colony High School's Sarah Callender in a 10-0 decision. Her teammate, Mia Wiederspohn, placed fourth, falling to Heaven Matheny, of Fairbanks Lathrop.

In the boys competition, Randy Churchill placed fifth by besting Graelin Chaney, of Dillingham, pinning him in 31 seconds.

Ethan Blatchley beat Craig's Bryant Holloway for fifth in the 171-pound weight division. Rowen Wiederspohn lost by decision to Seth Briesmeister of Hutchison High School in Fairbanks, landing him in second place for the 189-pound weight class, and Jake Eastaugh placed second in the 215 weight class, losing by decision to Ryan Randall, of Anchorage Christian.

"The team did great for their first tournament," said assistant coach Jack Carney. "Lots of pins, no one stopped wrestling, and we placed pretty high for having small teams. Our girls took first for small schools!"

Only eight of Wrangell's wrestlers competed in the invitational. Carney said he's looking forward to more of the team participating in upcoming matches.

"(We're) looking forward to getting better of the next five weeks and coming back to Anchorage (for state) stronger. The goal is to get everyone a place or two higher on the podium," he said. "Also, we hope to have all 15 kids on the mat rather than eight."

Results

Boys

Ethan Blatchley, five separate pins (total of 12 minutes, 44 seconds)

Randy Churchill, four pins (2:58)

Jake Eastaugh, three pins (5:48)

Rowen Wiederspohn, three pins (9:37)

Steven Bales, one pin (0:28)

The boys team had a combined 16 pins with a time of 31:35.

Girls

Liana Carney, three pins (2:21)

Mia Wiederspohn, three pins (7:59)

Della Churchill, one pin (0:38)

The girls team had a combined seven pins with a time of 10:58.