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Hutchison takes 5th

Former Skyview High School wrestler Michaela Hutchison placed fifth in the U.S. Senior Women's Freestyle Wrestling Championships on Thursday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

A freshman at Oklahoma City University, Hutchison earlier this season captured the women's 55-kilogram national championship and then made history by becoming the first woman to compete in an Oklahoma men's college dual.

Breaking ground wasn't new to her, though, as she became the first wrestler in the country to win an individual state high school championship competing against boys during her sophomore season at Skyview in 2006.

"She's phenomenal. She is really, really technically sound, her work ethic is really good, she's tough, she moves real well," OCU men's and women's wrestling coach Archie Randall said after Hutchison's first match against a male opponent in February. "She's a great student and a great kid. She's a pleasure to have on our team."

Nikiski wrestling club competes in Anchorage

Eight members of the Nikiski Freestyle Wrestling Club took top honors at the Anchorage Freestyle Tournament on April 4.

Kaitlyn Johnson (Bantam, 60 pounds), Zack Tuttle (Intermediate, 60), Logan Griffel (Novice, 65), Luke Johnson (Novice, 140), Joshua Brown (Schoolboy/girl, 128), Lincoln Johnson (Schoolboy/girl, 160), Corey Green (Cadet, 140) and Kaden Spurgeon (Cadet, 152) all placed first in helping the Nikiski team to a fifth-place finish overall.

In Pre-Bantam, Tucker Vann (55 pounds) placed second, while Tyler Woodworth (45) took fourth.

In Bantam, Gabriel Smith (55) finished second, Zach Burnett (50) placed third and Jacob Anderson (60) finished sixth.

In the Intermediate class, Donovan Smith (65), Nick Gross (80) and Ian Johnson (87) all finished second, while Alex Langseth (87) took third and Zebadiah Kovelda (65) placed fourth. In Novice, Nathan Carstens (95) finished second and Hunter Holloway (90) took fifth. In the Schoolboy/girl class, Zane Green (105) and Tyler Handley (84) finished third and fourth, respectively, and in the Cadet class, Cydney Spurgeon (112) and Dylan Berry (160) placed third, while Sawyer Skiba (125) finished fourth.

-Staff and wire reports