His team obviously felt otherwise.

The Kodiak wrestling coach entered the Nikiski Duals just hoping to watch his team wrestle as many matches as they could this early in the season, but ended up leaving town with the title.

Kodiak recorded four pins en route to defeating a depleted Skyview team, 51-18, Saturday at Nikiski High School.

“We came over here to wrestle,” Costello said. “They were tired. But they worked pretty hard.”

In other matches, Seward downed Soldotna, 42-25, to earn third place and Nikiski/Cook Inlet Academy edged Voznesenka/Ninilchik, 33-27, to take fifth.

With only four seniors on the Skyview squad, coach Neldon Gardner was pleased with his team’s second-place finish.

“We have a young team and Kodiak’s got a little more experience than us right now. We’re missing a few weight classes,” he explained. “We were hoping to pick it up a little bit. But for opening week, I’m not real disappointed.”

Soldotna's Justice Elson works to control Ninilchik's Quinn Bennet Friday at the Nikiski Duals. Elson won the challenge. Photo by M. Scott Moon

Buffington jumped ahead early in the first with a takedown and allowed Cratty to escape midway through the second period, making it 2-1 entering the final frame.

After Cratty knotted the match at 2-2, Buffington easily escaped for a 3-2 advantage. But with 39.4 seconds remaining, Cratty earned a hard-fought takedown on the fringe of the circle to jump ahead 4-3.

Another Buffington escape tied it at 4-4 with 25 seconds to go and with under five seconds to play, Buffington seemed to have picked up two points for a takedown, but the referees didn’t view it that way.

Both men then started on their feet and Cratty managed a takedown and two back points at the buzzer to earn an 8-4 victory.

“Eddie Buffington placed in state before and lost to the Kodiak kid on the controversial takedown at the end. But that’s what it’s all about,” Gardner said.

Skyview’s Michaela Hutchison dominated Nick VanMetre to the tune of an 8-1 decision in the 119-pound weight class.

“She’s wrestling exceptionally well,” Gardner said.

In the 125-pound class, Alex Janorschke held a slim 2-0 lead over Kodiak’s Colton Cubbedge until he picked up violation and escape points in the final 20 seconds for a 4-0 decision.

Kodiak’s Lucas Fried (135 pounds) pinned Luke Morse in 1:22 and Skyview’s Fred Pollard in 1:27 at 152.

At 160 pounds, Kodiak’s Jeremiah Caswell decisioned David Duncan, 7-1.

Patrick Sheridan (170) of Skyview had his hands full through two rounds with Mario Peterson before cruising to a 9-2 victory, nearly pinning Peterson throughout the final minute.

The Bears’ David Gilbert (215) had little trouble with Adam Byrne, pinning him in 2:20, and Russ Bacon (HWT) decisioned Jacob Long of Skyview, 4-2.

NIKISKI DUALS

At Nikiski

Friday-Saturday

CHAMPIONSHIP DUAL Ð KODIAK 51, SKYVIEW 18

103 — M. Cawette, Kod, won by forfeit

112 — Danny Marciariello, Sky, won by forfeit

119 — Michaela Hutchison, Sky, dec. Nick VanMetre, 8-1

125 — Tyler Janorschke, Sky, dec. Colton Cubbedge, 4-0

130 — Jimmy Eggemeyer, Kod, won by forfeit

135 — Lucas Fried, Kod, p. Luke Morse, 1:22

140 — Derrick Burlison, Sky, won by forfeit

145 — Marlin Branson, Kod, won by forfeit

152 — S. Olsen, Kod, p. Fred Pollard, 1:27

160 — Jeremiah Caswell, Kod, p. David Duncan, 3:18

171 — Patrick Sheridan, Sky, dec. Mario Peterson, 9-2

189 — Al Cratty, Kod, dec. Eddie Buffington, 8-4

215 — David Gilbert, Kod, p. Adam Byrne, 2:20

HWT — Russ Bacon, Sky, dec. Jacob Long, 4-2

THIRD PLACE, SEWARD 42, SOLDOTNA 25

103 — S. Douglas, Sew, p. Meg Pruitt, 0:28

112 — OPEN

119 — OPEN

125 — K. Campbell, Sew, p. Z. Kooly, 1:06

130 — J. Carlson, SoHi, dec. M. Zweifel, 8-1

135 — R. Hanley/D. Leavitt, SoHi, won by forfeit

140 — R. Hanley, SoHi, maj. dec. K. Backlund, 12-3

145 — M. Nyholm, Sew, p. J. Elson, 3:05

152 — D. Beck, Sew, p. J. Oleson, 2:52

160 — E. Morris, SoHi, p. W. Clock, 1:41

171 — W. Chisholm, Sew, p. C. Jenson, 2:50

189 — A. Logan, Sew, p. J. Chumley, 2:27

215 — B. O’Brikis, Sew, p. M. Streiby, 1:40

HWT — L. Baker, SoHi, p. I. Filbert, 0:20

EXHIBITION

112 — Danny Marciariello, Sky, dec. Chloe Ivanoff, 10-5

130 — Jimmy Eggemeyer, Kod, p. Jared Thomas, 1:22