Crimson Bears wrestlers dominate home matches
- Klas Stolpe
- 44 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Juneau Invitational sees best of Southeast compete
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Southeast Showdown turned into a Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.At Kalé show out as 29 Crimson Bears earned podiums, with 12 taking weight division championships.
“I would say this weekend went very well for the whole team,” JDHS senior captain Alex Marx-Beierly said. He placed first at 152 pounds. “Our wrestlers were firing on all cylinders, and I have never heard coach compliment us so much in one sitting. I feel like all of our hard work is paying off and we are getting the hang of things. I was very glad to have my senior night end on a high note with my first hometown first place. It was definitely a night to remember.”
Twelve Southeast high schools brought boys and girls varsity teams to compete.
The JDHS boys topped the team standings with 315 points, Wrangell totaled 128, Ketchikan 126, Mt. Edgecumbe 117, Sitka 108, Metlakatla 103, Petersburg 68, Skagway 42, Craig 30.5, Hoonah 26.5, Angoon 18 and Kake 0.
“With it being our home tournament, it really wasn't about any individual,” JDHS coach Adam Messmer said. “With how big our team is, it was great having everyone in one place and watch how they supported each other.”
Mt. Edgecumbe took the girls’ team title with 178 points, JDHS 92, Kayhi 91, Hoonah 64, Craig 59, Wrangell 52, Metlakatla 35, Sitka 29, Kake 16, Angoon 11 and Petersburg seven.
“Our girls are really starting to shine,” Messmer said. “This is the most girls we have ever had and we placed second behind Mt. Edgecumbe. Mt. Edgecumbe has been the powerhouse for girls wrestling in Southeast for a long time and for our girls to see that they can, not only hang with such a tough team but compete at their level, was inspiring.”
The JDHS boys placed 23 of 38 grapplers on the podium and the JDHS girls six of nine.
The JDHS boys had an overpowering 11 champions out of the 14 weight brackets.
“Our top wrestlers performed as they do every week wrestling at a high level,” Messmer said. “The biggest takeaway I have is how our younger wrestlers did. It is great to see them convert the hard work they have put in the practice room to actual matches. For some of them, this was their first matches of the season or the first tournament ever.”
Marx-Beierly placed first at 160 pounds, including a pin over Kayhi junior Cayden Harney at 4:52 in the championship.
Freshman Landon Hill defeated Kayhi sophomore Maxton Glover by 19-3 technical fall at 5:17 for the 119-pound championship.
Junior Camden Messmer pinned classmate Tristen Ridgeway at 1:26 of their 125-pound title match.
Junior Felix Hesson stopped sophomore teammate Joshua Beedle by 15-9 decision in the 130-pound championship.
Junior Landyn Dunn won by 9-1 major decision over MEHS senior Elden Andrew for the 135-pound title.
Senior Oliver Abel defeated Sitka junior Killan Hammock 2-1 in the 140-pound championship.
Senior Marlin Cox pinned Wrangell junior Cooper Powers at 3:58 for the 145-pound championship.
Junior Jed Davis decisioned Hoonah junior Lawrence Howland 7-3 for the 152-pound title.
Sophomore Ivan Shockley pinned MEHS senior Kolby Clark-Pruitt at 4:56 of the 171-pound championship.
Senior Kyle Carter pinned Kayhi sophomore Rocco Piazza at 2:16 of their title match.
Senior Richard Tupou pinned sophomore teammate Braedon Antrim at 5:01 of their 285-pound championship match.
Sophomore Nixie Schooler won by 18-1 TF over Kayhi freshman Loriel Zapanta for the girls’ 107-pound championship.
“I was the most happiest about the first period tech in the finals,” Schooler said. “And I am proud of the girls and how they did this tournament. They fought really hard and keep getting better.”
Other JDHS girls’ finishes included freshman Madelyn Dale placing second at 114 pounds, freshman Ciara Dutton second at 138 pounds, freshman Adriana Blanton third at 120 pounds, sophomore Toriana Johnson third at 126 pounds, freshman Pheobie Martin third at 165 pounds, freshman Fiona McFarlin fourth at 107 pounds, sophomore Lacie Whitehead fifth at 120 pounds and sophomore Sunny Dutton sixth at 120 pounds.
Other podium placings by the JDHS boys included freshman Matthew Shockley second at 112 pounds, junior Jaxin Jim second at 189 pounds, freshman Jayden Frickey third at 103 pounds, sophomore Carson Kautz third at 112 pounds, freshman Beckham Selvig-Baker third at 130 pounds, junior Joseph Webster third at 135 pounds, sophomore Caleb Aube third at 140 pounds, junior Gage Keller third at 145 pounds and sophomore Sean Fairchild third at 285 pounds.
Other JDHS placings included freshman Hendrik Van Kirk fourth at 135 pounds, junior Elliot Klinger fifth at 152 pounds, senior Hyrum Fish at 189 pounds, freshman William Hulson sixth at 119 pounds, freshman Luke Darbonne sixth at 130 pounds, sophomore Jonah Lane seventh at 130 pounds, sophomore Michael Carson eighth at 125 pounds, junior Tyler Garrison eighth at 130 pounds and senior Quintin McCoy eighth at 140 pounds. Freshman Thomas McMillan grappled at 135 pounds, sophomore Orion Drake at 145 pounds, junior Orrin Noon at 160 pounds, junior Sam Buttner at 171 pounds, sophomore Brody Vavalis at 171 pounds and junior Tyler Oudekerk at 189 pounds.
Visiting girls' weight bracket champions included Wrangell freshman Jenna Meissner at 100 pounds, MEHS sophomore Marykay Evon at 114 pounds, MEHS senior Breana Nelson at 120 pounds, MEHS freshman Audrina Dull at 126 pounds, MEHS junior Ashlynn Lonewolf at 132 pounds, MEHS senior Halena Slats at 138 pounds, Hoonah sophomore Harlee Brown at 145 pounds, MEHS junior Arianna Olanna at 152 pounds, Hoonah freshman Ava Hinchman at 165 pounds and Wrangell freshman Arabella Nore at 235 pounds.
Visiting boys' weight bracket champions included Sitka freshman Jene Keith at 103 pounds, MEHS junior Benjamin Balluta at 112 pounds and MEHS senior Carlos Sandoval at 189 pounds.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
