Staff report
The Soldotna wrestling team cruised to the team title in the Best Western Bidarka Round Robin Rumble on Friday and Saturday in Homer.
The Stars scored 157 points for the victory, while Eagle River was the runner-up with 68 points. Also from the Kenai Peninsula, Kenai Central was third with 66, Homer was fourth with 59, Nikiski was fifth with 42 and Seward was sixth with 32.
The Stars received individual championships from Jacob Strausbaugh at 112, Trevor Michael at 140, Scott Michael at 152, Wayne Mellon at 171, Hunter Richardson at 189, Liam Babitt at 215, Liam Boyd at 152B, Joe Whittom at 189B and Trinity Donovan at 160 girls.
In the first place match at 112, Strausbaugh defeated Eagle River’s Liam Rogers with a 16-0 technical fall. At 140, Trevor Michael pinned all four of his opponents. At 152, Scott Michael won four matches by pin and another by injury default.
At 171, Mellon won two matches by pin, one by technical fall and a 10-4 decision over Nikiski’s Truit McCaughey. At 189, Richardson pinned all four of his opponents. At 215, Babitt pinned three wrestlers and won his other match by major decision.
At 152B, Boyd recorded four pins, while Whittom also had four pins at 189B. Finally, Donovan pinned all five of her opponents at 160.
Also for the Stars, Blaze Michael was second at 125, Dallas Walker was second at 189B, Jessica Leclair was second at 119 girls, Ryan Buchanan was third at 112, Edgar Land was third at 152, Collin Peck was third at 160, Nicholas Rackley was fourth at 130, Kevin Steger was fourth at 215, Kenai Lepule was fourth at 285, Erin Bell was fifth at 160 girls and Simon Willets was seventh at 112.
Sarai Bravo-Moe, at 135 girls, and Talon Whicker, at 125, picked up championships for the Kardinals.
Bravo-Moe won matches by pin and forfeit for her title, while Whicker had three pins and a 6-2 decision over Paul Minke of Homer.
Also for Kenai, Andrew Gaethle was second at 152, Morgan Stark was second at 189, Isabella Asi was second at 135 girls, Jenna Yeoman was second at 160 girls, Owen Whicker was third at 130, Antonio Perez was third at 140, Zoticus Active was third at 189, Shannon Murphy was third at 152B, Simon Watts was third at 160 girls, Koen Pace was fourth at 119, Elijah Dambacher was fourth at 140, Cameron Cook was fourth at 152, Jalyn Yeoman was fourth at 160 girls, Delen Byrd was fifth at 140, Captain Brogdon was fifth at 171, Reymond Perez was sixth at 152 and Nathan Teates was seventh at 160.
Homer received championships from Russell Nyvall at 145, Cecilia Fitzpatrick at 119 girls and Mischelle Wells at 235 girls.
Nyvall picked up three pins and a major decision on his way to the title. Fitzpatrick pinned two to win the title, while Wells was unopposed.
Also for the Mariners, Landyn Doughty was second at 119, Paul Minke was third at 125, Alex Van Meter was fourth at 125, Adgel Chandler was fourth at 189B, Brayden Wood was sixth at 160 and Rainey Sundheim was sixth at 160 girls.
Wyatt Maguire at 119 and Mayaac Schmit at 285 both won titles for Nikiski. Maguire pinned all three of his opponents for the title, while Schmit pinned four for his crown.
Also for the Bulldogs, Simon Grenier was second at 171, Truit McCaughey was third at 171, Sam Yerkes was fourth at 145, Johnny Ralston was fourth at 171B, Oliver Parrish was fifth at 145 and Robert Isabel was fifth at 215.
For Seward, Fayzon Lawrence led the way with a title at 171B. Also for the Seahawks, Nathan Hankins was third at 119, John Vanbuskirk was third at 285, Hunter Kurtz was fourth at 112, Jack Gardner was fifth at 285 and Aidan Schilling was sixth at 112.
