The Soldotna wrestling team finished fourth Friday and Saturday at the Lancer Smith Fall 2021 Varsity Invite at Menard Arena in Wasilla.
The tournament is unique in that it brings together pretty much all of the big schools and small schools for a massive event.
The top nine teams at the tournament were all Division I schools, led by Colony with 255.5 points. Lathrop, South and Soldotna were bunched right behind with 198.5, 197.5 and 194.5 points, respectively.
Grace Christian was the first Division II school, in 10th at 65 points. Division II Kenai Peninsula schools at the meet were Nikiski in 16th at 38, Kenai in 17th at 33, Homer in 24th at 13.5 and Seward in 31st at 5 points.
At the Lancer Smith Fall 2021 Girls Invite, Lathrop won with 138 points, while Soldotna was fifth with 80. Also from the peninsula, Homer was 22nd with 15.
The Kenai Peninsula had four overall individual champions, all from Soldotna. Jacob Strausbaugh at 103 pounds, Wayne Mellon at 171, Liam Babitt at 215 and Trinity Donovan at 145 for the girls all earned crowns.
Donovan was dominant in claiming the title at for the Stars. Donovan pinned all four of her opponents.
Strausbaugh notched an 8-5 decision over Lathrop’s Ian Werner in the championship match for his victory.
Mellon got a 9-4 decision in the championship match against Service’s Zachary Priebe.
Babitt registered a 7-1 decision over South’s Britten Hamilton for his victory.
Also for the Stars, Hunter Richardson was second at 189, Ezekiel Miller was third at 125, Trevor Michael was third at 135 and Isaac Chavarria was third at 145.
For Nikiski, Truit McCaughey was fifth and 171 and Mayaac Schmit was sixth at 285.
For Kenai, Talon Whicker placed sixth at 125.
Also for the Stars girls, Jessica Leclair was fourth at 103, Angelina Chavarria was fifth at 112, Daisy Hannevold was fifth at 135 and Erin Bell was fifth at 145.
Mischelle Wells, at 235, led the Mariners girls by placing fourth.
(Photo by Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman) Soldotna freshman Jacob Strausbaugh works to try to turn Lathrop’s Ian Werner during the 103-pound final of the Lancer Smith Fall 2021 Varsity Invite on Saturday at the Menard Arena in Wasilla.
