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Juneau Youth Wrestling Club ‘takes down’ state titles
- Klas Stolpe
- 16 hours ago
- 11 min read
Updated: 14 hours ago
Grapplers wrestle, eat, sleep, rinse and repeat over three days in three disciplines
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
Forty-five Juneau Youth Wrestling Club members took to the mats at the Alaska USA Wrestling State Tournament in Wasilla’s Curtis B. Menard Sports Center, April 29-May 2, and all came away, in one form or another, as champions.
“We brought up a team of 45 of our most dedicated wrestlers,” JYWC coach Jason Hass said. “Dedicated is an understatement to describe this crew. Some have been wrestling since the high school pre-season last August. While some of the younger cohort just started wrestling in January. But our group exemplified a family unit.”
The JYWC wrestled both Division I — teams with over 45 wrestlers — and DII — teams with 45 or less — and placed seventh overall out of 35 wrestling clubs from across the state. Among their DII team challengers the JYWC placed first in folkstyle out of 26 teams, first in Greco-Roman out of 25 teams and fifth in freestyle out of 27 teams.
“This tournament is a true test of mental and physical endurance,” Hass said. “Unique in that all three disciplines of wrestling are wrestled in the same weekend.”
The JYWC arrived in Wasilla on Wednesday. They wrestled folkstyle on Thursday, Greco-Roman on Friday, and freestyle on Saturday. Each night’s award ceremony lasted past 9 p.m. The team would then return to the church, hotel or school they stayed in to quickly eat, shower, sleep and wake up early to do it all again.
“Wrestle, eat, sleep, rinse, repeat,” Hass commented.
The three disciplines totaled roughly 3,000 participants and resulted in nearly 10,000 matches.
The JYWC had team members as young as eight-year-old Evan Daniels up through junior high, high school and even coach Michelle Jester, whom competed in the “Alaska Moms on the Mat” division, placing first in freestyle.
“Unlike the other wrestlers, I only had one day of wrestling — freestyle on Saturday — in the AMOM,” Jester said. She wrestled at Kodiak High School (2004-08) and Jamestown College (2009-13), now the University of Jamestown in North Dakota. “I try to lead by example, so when the last-minute decision for me to coach at state was made, I also decided I would wrestle. What a gift it was to return to the mat after 13 years and wrestle for something bigger than myself. I am humbled for the opportunity.”
Former JYWC member Darren Foster, now living in Nevada, also joined the team.
“While our group was as diverse as possible, one common tie that bound us all together was our love of the sport of wrestling,” Hass said. “We all know how difficult our sport can be and how all the personal lessons it teaches, but one overlooked lesson is the way it teaches us how to show empathy.”
The JYWC is noted for its high school wrestlers consoling younger wrestlers after a tough loss and coaches sympathetic towards the feelings of high schoolers who were struggling with balancing the emotions of their last tournament as a high schooler and the satisfaction of a season’s end.
“Wrestling trips are about more than the few minutes spent on-the-mat,” Hass said. “It’s about the memories made, the friendships developed, and the life lessons learned during the hours off-the-mat.”
Alex Marx-Beierly was the lone senior Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé grappler on the trip. Wrestling in the Junior 175lb divisions he placed second in Greco-Roman (GR), third in folkstyle (FK) and fourth in freestyle (FS).
“Alex has been a steadfast leader on our team since eighth grade,” Hass said. "It’s bittersweet to see his high school years come to an end. Bitter because he has been such a valuable member of our community, by his leadership, his work ethic, his always positive attitude and his recruitment of many of our current wrestlers. But also sweet because Alex will be attending college soon and leaves no doubt that he will continue to wrestle. And I’m confident that wherever he lands he will continue to represent the Juneau wrestling community perfectly. Our club owes a lot to this young man.”
Marx-Beierly commented on the three days of varying wrestling disciplines.
"You have to do a mental reset before every day to make sure you do not accidentally do a leg-lace in Greco or lock you hands together in folkstyle," he said. "But it is also nice because if you lose to someone on day one you still have two more days to get back at them in the other styles."
Marx-Beierly said his favorite discipline is folkstyle, "Because it takes the most to win. A tech fall in folk is 15 points and it is a lot harder to score than it is in the other two styles, which you can end in two throw or one good leg lace. If you win in folkstyle then you truly one."
This was the last high school meet for Marx-Beierly.
"My last tournament was very bittersweet but it did not really hit me until after my last match that I would not be wrestling for Juneau again," he said. "I am glad to have had such great coaches and teammates to support me and watch my matches through the last five years, and only regret not starting sooner. I am ggreally going to miss this team and the family dynamic that comes with it. When your high school wrestling career is finally over, six a.m. practices and preseason runs do not sound so bad anymore."
JDHS junior Camden Messmer avenged a December Alaska School Activities Association tournament loss to Lincoln Werner, of the Interior Grappling Academy (Fairbanks’ Student Wrestling Development Program). Prior to this weekend Messmer had never beaten Werner, but he defeated Werner in all three disciplines in the Junior 138-pound divisions on his way to first place in FS, second in FK and third in GR.
“I have been wrestling all three styles since I was four or five so it is not that hard to switch between styles for me,” Messmer said. “Personally, I like folkstyle the best. It has a lot more scrambling which I like…Just because a sport is tough does not mean you cannot have fun. I go out on the mat and I am having a blast. Yes, it is hard at some point, but in the big picture wrestling is so much fun.”
JDHS freshman Madelyn Dale is also currently starting for the JDHS girls soccer team. She wrestled last week in the 16U Girls 125lb division, placing first in FS, second in GR and second in FK. Dale defeated top seed Faith Skogstad, of Arctic Warriors Wrestling Club. in the second place FK match by pin at 2:10 and the championship of the FS at 3:47.
“Wrestling all three styles in three days is both fun and challenging,” Dale said. “I think my favorite style this year was freestyle. I was feeling good that day and was having fun, and I wrestled well because of that. I am able to stay dedicated to the sport because I have goals, and support from my teammates, coaches, and family.”
JDHS sophomore Joshua Beedle, wrestling in the 16U 144-pound divisions, placed third in GR, 2nd in FK and third in FS. Beedle’s wins included an 11-5 decision over top seed Addyxus Echak of Mid Valley Wrestling Club in the FK semifinals and a technical fall over second seed Andrew Fowler of NFWC in the consolation FS.
“Wrestling three styles in three days is a lot of fun because it forces you to change up the way you wrestle each day,” Josh Beedle said. “And everyone has their best style so if you struggle in your worst one day you can redeem yourself the next in the style you are the best at…I prefer folkstyle over Greco and freestyle because of the way it is wrestled. In the other two you get a takedown and the ref gives you about 10 seconds to get a turn before you have to stand back up and wrestle on your feet again. But in folkstyle if you get a takedown you just wrestle in the mat until the period ends. I am also a fan of Greco because you cannot touch the legs and you have to try and throw your opponent, so that really switches up how you wrestle.”
Beedle said he finds it easy to stay dedicated to wrestling, “Because I just find it really fun and if you lose it is all on you and you cannot blame anyone but yourself. So you go back to the stands watch the match and find out what you did wrong and need to fix.”
JDHS sophomore Sean Fairchild wrestled in the 16U 285-pound divisions, placing first in GR and FS and second in FK.
“Wrestling for three days is tough,” Fairchild said. “You get super sore and do not want to get out of bed, but with the three different styles, it didn’t really get boring. The style I prefer is freestyle because it is like a combination of the two others.”
Fairchild said he stays dedicated to the sport by, “Having friends in things to look forward to, not just the tough practices every day.”
JDHS freshman Matthew Shockley had two notable victories over Soldotna’s Coleman LeClaire in the 16U 120-pound division, as he had struggled to have a victory against LeClaire for a very long time. Shockley placed second in GR and FS, and third in FK.
“Wrestling three styles in three days is pretty tough to do with the constant feeling of being sore,” Shockley said. “But you also know everyone else is also and push through it and still wrestle your hardest. I prefer Greco-Roman wrestling the most because I enjoy doing the throws and the high intensity all the time. What helps me stay dedicated in wrestling is the thought of it being one-on-one matches so whatever happens in a match is your fault. Another thing that helps me love the sport is the people you meet and practice with.”
JDHS sophomore Nixie Schooler, who recently earned All-American honors with an 8th place finish at the U.S. Open High School Girls Showcase in Las Vegas, Nevada, wrestled in the 16U Girls 115-pound categories, placing first in FK and FS and second in GR.
“It is hard to remember what you are doing in three days,” Schooler commented. “I wish I were two days… Freestyle is what I prefer because it is the easiest and the most fun because I can roll and throw opponents and score lots of points… I stay dedicated because it feels good two win.”
Some of the JYWC wins were considered “upsets” by tournament officials, in reality they show the improvement of the grapplers.
Among many JYWC unexpected improvement wins were:
Feangai Kivalu, wrestling in the 14U Girls 135-pound division, defeated top seed Harper Cratty of Kodiak Wrestling Club by 16-1 technical fall at 0:50 of the FK quarterfinals and again in the semifinals of the FS by Fall at 1:38; Lacie Whitehead (16U Girls 125lb) over top seed Faith Skogstad of Arctic Warriors Wrestling Club (Fall 4:50 FK quarterfinals); Archie Baxter (12U 135lb) over top seed Dakota Adams AWWC (Dec. 18-12 FK 3rd place match); Leighton Hall (16U Girls 110lb) over top seed McKinley Bock of Soldotna Whalers Wrestling Club (Dec. 3-1 FK championship) and over second seed Juliann Giauque of Pioneer Grappling Academy (TG 10-0, 1:36 FS Semis); Garret Reid (10U 59lb) over top seed Caeden Abafo of MVWC (Dec. 3-3 GR Semis); Rylan Pegues (10U 59lb) over top seed Caeden Abafo of MVWD (Fall 1:45 FS 1st place match); Lucy Poff (10U Girls 62lb) over top seed Mazie Schofield of CEWC (Dec. 10-6 FK second place match); Cash Miller (14U 105lb) over second seed Brian Mahoney of MVWD (Fall 1:09 GR second place match); Darren Foster (Junior 215lb) over second seed Landon Davis of Mat-Su Matmen (TF 8-0, 1:21 FK semifinals); Morgan Pegues (12U 92lb) over second seed Ahonui Harcharek of Avalanche Wrestling Association (Tech Fall 10-0, 1:29 GR semis); Joshua Herrador (12U 160lb) over second seed Leander Johnson of Chugach Eagles Wrestling Club (Fall 0:27 FK Semis); Kolton Krueger (14U 175lb) over second seed Ryan Lutz of Anchorage Freestyle Wrestling Club (Dec. 10-6 FS second place match); and Margaret Olson (14U girls 130lb) over third seed Serena Bowen of SWWC (Major Fall, GR qrtrs).
Many other JYWC grapplers defeated 1-6 seeds as well.
The JYWC will take a brief break and then host their annual girls wrestling clinic in late June. This year’s guest instructor will be coach Ashley Flavin of Life University in Georgia. Life University is the current back-to-back NAIA Women’s Wrestling National Championship team.
Following are the JYWC individual results from the state championships (Name - division - style & placing):
FEMALES -
Madelyn Dale - 16U Girls 125lb - Greco Roman/GR 2nd, Folk Style/FK 2nd, Free Style/FS 1st; Ciara Dutton - 16U Girls 145lb - GR 3rd, FK 3rd, FS 3rd; Leighton Hall - 16U Girls 110lb - GR 2nd, FK 1st, FS 2nd; Finley Hulson - 14U Girls 85lb - GR 3rd, FK 3rd, FS 3rd; Michelle Jester - AMOM 55lb - FS 1st; Toriana Johnson - 16U Girls 120lb - GR 3rd, FK 3rd, FS 3rd; Feangai Kivalu - 14U Girls 135lb - GR 3rd, FK 2nd, FS 2nd; Margaret Olson - 14U Girls 130lb - GR 2nd, FK 5th, FS 4th; Lucy Poff - 10U Girls 62lb - FS 2nd, FK 2nd; Minali Reid - 14U Girls 125lb - GR 2nd, FK 2nd; Nixie Schooler - 16U Girls 115lb - 2nd, FK 1st, FS 1st; Lacie Whitehead - 16U Girls 125lb - GR 6th, FK 6th, FS 4th.
MALES -
Archer Baxter - 12U 135lb - GR 4th, FK 3rd; Joshua Beedle - 16U 144lb - GR 3rd, FK 2nd, FS 3rd; Samuel Buttner - Junior 175lb - GR 4th, FK 5th, FS 6th; Evan Daniels - 8U 62/63lb - FS 1st, GR 2nd, FK 2nd; Andrew Erickson - 16U 126lb - GR 4th, FK 5th, FS DNP; Sean Fairchild - 16U 285lb - GR 1st, FK 2nd, FS 1st; Steven Fairchild - 14U 140lb - GR 3rd, FK 6th, FS DNP; Darren Foster - Junior 215lb - GR 3rd, FK 2nd, FS 6th; Fernando Garcia - 14U 225lb - GR 3rd, FK 5th, FS DNP; Miles Godkin - 12U 160lb - GR 5th, FK 6th, FS DNP; Joseph Herrador - 10U 105/120lb - FS 4th, GR 2nd, FK 4th; Jonah Herrador - 8U 49lb - FS DNP; Joshua Herrador - 12U 160lb - GR 2nd, FK 3rd, FS DNP; Felix Hesson - Junior 138lb - GR 5th, FK 5th, FS DNP; Wyatt Hickok - 16U 138lb - GR DNP, FK DNP, FS DNP; Guy Hunter - 16U 132lb - GR DNP, FK DNP, FS DNP; Kolton Krueger - 14U 175lb - GR DNP, FK 3rd, FS 2nd; Alex Marx-Beierly - Junior 175lb - GR 2nd, FK 3rd, FS 4th; Camden Messmer - Junior 138lb - GR 3rd, FK 2nd, FS 1st; Cash Miller - 14U 105lb - GR 2nd, FK 4th, FS 6th; Solomon Olson - 12U 78lb - GR DNP, FK DNP, FS DNP; Jack Pegues - 16U 132lb - GR 4th, FK 5th, FS 4th; Morgan Pegues - 12U 92lb - GR 2nd, FK 4th, FS 3rd; Rylan Pegues - 10U 59lb - FS 1st, GR 1st, FK 2nd; Troy Peters - 14U 75 lb - GR 3rd, FK 3rd, ; Axel Pleasants - 12U 70lb - GR 6th, FK 6th, FS DNP; Kael Prince - 14U 155lb - GR DNP, FK DNP, FS DNP; Garrett Reid - 10U 59lb - FS 4th, GR 3rd, FK 4th; Cole Savland - 14U 140lb - GR DNP, FK 4th, FS DNP; Beckham Selvig-Baker - 16U 144lb - GR 6th, FK DNP, FS DNP; Matthew Shockley - 16U 120lb - GR 2nd, FK 3rd, FS 2nd; Logan Sivertsen - 14U 100lb - GR 2nd, FK 2nd, FS 3rd; Max Webster - Junior 138lb - GR 6th, FK DNP, FS DNP; Lachlan Whitton - 12U 135lb - GR DNP, FK DNP, FS DNP.
OVERALL TEAM PLACINGS -
1. Mid Valley Wrestling Club 1238; 2. Interior Grappling Academy 1018; 3. Soldotna Whatlers WC 914; 4. Avalanche Wrestling Association 838; 5. Pioneer Grappling Academy 784; 6. Alaska Battle Cats WC 570; 7. JYWC 564; 8. Mat-Su Matmen 530; 9. Chugach Eagles WC 490; 10. Anchor Kings WC 310; 11. Arctic Warriors WC 368; 12. Marathon WC 310; 13. Bethel Freestyle WC 288; 14. Anchorage Freestyle WC 274; 15. Nikiski Freestyle WC 240; 16. Kodiak WC 214; 17. Northern Valley Wrestling 156; 17. Valdez Youth WC Inc. 156; 19. Anchorage Youth Wrestling Academy 146; 20. Glacier Bear WC 130; 21. Wrangell WC 122; 22. Kenai Killer Bees WC 120; 23. Dilling-Hammers WC 116; 24. Delta WC 114; 25 Sitka Tsunami WC 102; 26. Ketchikan WC 96; 27. North Pole WC 92; 28. Fairbanks WC 90; 29. Tri-Valley WC 62; 30. Cordova Pounders WC 60; 30. Viking Bryting 60; 32. Lakeside Grapplers 56; 33. Alaska 40; 34. Lions Den WC 8; 35 Napaskiak Freestyle WC 4.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at klas.stolpe@gmail.com.
