Alaska

Dominant performances, heartwarming storylines highlight 2023 Alaska state wrestling tournament

Published

6 months ago

December 17, 2023

Dominant performances, heartwarming storylines highlight 2023 Alaska state wrestling tournament

South High wrestlers cheer as Titus Watts, of Soldotna, and Anna Siackhasone, of South High, compete in the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. Siackhasone won the match 8-4. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

The 2023 Alaska high school wrestling season officially came to a close Saturday night at the Alaska Airlines Center with the second and final day of the annual Alaska State Wrestling Tournament. The finals featured several exciting matches across the girls and both boys divisions.

As far as overall team titles, South Anchorage successfully defended its Division I boys state championship, Soldotna won the first girls championship in program history and the Seward boys captured their first Division II championship.

Despite going 3-of-8 in their finals matches, the Wolverines had their team title all but wrapped up before the championship round got underway, finishing with 315 combined points. That was 45 more than the Fairbanks-based Student Wrestling Development Program, the next closest team with 270 points.

“It was a tough night in the finals with some individual matchups, but the team kind of wrapped it up before the finals and it was a team win,” South coach Randy Hanson said. “It feels good, not great, but back-to-back is something to celebrate.”

Since ASAA started tallying total team points for the girls division in 2017, no team had reached the 200-point threshold. The Stars didn’t just claim their first-ever team title in a landslide, their 212 total points set a state record and was nearly 100 more than the next closest team, which was Colony with 115 points.

“It’s been awesome and a long road,” Soldotna head coach Peter Dickinson said. “I’ve coaching a lot of these girls for a long time, and it’s been great. They’ve been working hard and deserve every bit of it.”

Rowan Peck, of Soldotna, top, and Pagan Lester of Newhalen, compete at 120 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. Peck won 4-3. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Rowan Peck, of Soldotna, leaps into her coach’s arms after defeating Pagan Lester, of Newhalen, 4-3 at 120 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Daisy Hannevold, of Soldotna, and Annika Johnson, of Chugiak High, compete at 138 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Jessica LeClair of Soldotna High is wrapped up by Kaelynn Seidl of Wasilla High at 100 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

They went a perfect 5-of-5 in the finals, which included three upsets in matches where their wrestler was the lower seed and not favored to win. Junior Jessica LeClair’s victory in the 100-pound weight class was especially meaningful for her father, Max, who is on the coaching staff and primarily works with Soldotna’s female wrestlers.

“They were all really exciting, but my daughter’s (match) really hit home,” LeClair said. “She placed last year, but this year she won it all and got it done.”

Tommy Jarnig of Seward High has control of Laiton Pingayak of Chevak High on his way to a win at 103 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

In Division II boys competition, Seward had never finished higher than 10th in overall team scoring at state since the tournament went from three classes to two divisions in the 2017-18 school year. The Seahawks racked up 184 combined points, which was 47 points more than Haines, which was the runner-up with 137 points.

[An 89-foot fishing tender helped Haines’ wrestling team reach the state tournament in Anchorage]

Highlights and top takeaways

Heavyweight bouts almost always make for exciting matches, and the Division I finals match at 285 pounds between Arnold Baffour of Service and Chris Strawderman of South didn’t disappoint. While the fourth meeting between the seniors played out a lot like the previous three, with neither giving much ground until the very end, the final result was different as Baffour outlasted Strawderman in double overtime. It was the longest match of his career and resulted in his first career state title as well.

“It feels like a lot of hard work just paid off,” Baffour said. “I feel like I had a lot of people on my side, God included, and I am very thankful for this. It was a new experience and, I feel, like a fitting last match of my high school season.”

Spencer Johnson of Chugiak High, celebrates his win over Nolan Gallagher, Colony High, at 215 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

The match that preceded theirs at 215 pounds didn’t go into overtime but was just as exciting, and also resulted in another first-time champion being crowned: Chugiak’s Spencer Johnson defeated Nolan Gallagher of Colony with one of the most improbable pins of his career. Tied 8-8 in the third period, he was able to stick his opponent’s shoulder blades on the mat long enough from bottom position to secure the victory with 24 seconds left on the clock.

“He was riding high, so I grabbed his head, pulled him down and his shoulders were exposed to the mat,” Johnson said. “I’ve trained for as long as I can remember for a moment like this.”

Dimond senior Jahzara O’Neil had the most interesting pathway to the finals and secured her first career state title by pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the girls division. In just her fourth match of the season, following a shoulder surgery that knocked her out of commission until regions. She was unseeded but stunned previously undefeated top seed Carlie VanBuskirk of Valdez in a 9-5 decision victory.

“I only got medically clear three or four weeks ago,” O’Neil said. “I tore my labrum at women’s nationals in April and had to get surgery in order to keep wrestling. I was so tired and was probably stalling a bit because that was my longest match of the season. All my others had ended in first-period pins.”

Dylan McCambly of Dillingham prevented Aidan Schilling of Seward from winning his third straight state title in a different weight class by securing the first of his career with a decisive 4-2 victory in the Division II boys 119-pound weight class.

Barrow’s Uatahouse Tuifua would not be denied in his pursuit of capping off his undefeated senior season by winning his third straight state title in the Division II boys 285 weight class, in his fourth consecutive finals appearance. It only took 90 seconds for him to pin Nikiski’s Mayaac Schmit for his 21st straight win.

“If feels amazing to be Barrow’s first-ever four-time state finalist,” Tuifua said. “I just stayed on my toes, tried not to be cocky, be humble, get after each and every one of these kids and just not give them a chance at all.”

Titus Watts, of Soldotna, and Anan Siackhasone, of South High, compete in the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament on Saturday. Siackhasone won the match 8-4. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Sheldon Smith, of Bethel High, and Daylon Brown, of Quinhagak, compete at 125 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Lathrop’s Megan Spencer was able to win her third straight state title at a different weight class to cap off her illustrious prep career, with a second-period pin over Jade Sherry of Student Wrestling Development Program in the girls 114-pound finals bout.

Homer sophomore Saoirse Cook successfully defended her title at the girls 126-pound weight class with a third-period pin of Palmer’s Sarah Callender.

Colony junior Amelia Fawcett had the most dominant win in the girls division but was a little disappointed in her second-period tech fall victory over Saige Morris of South at 145 pounds, because 27 of her previous 28 matches this season had ended in a pin and she wanted to claim her first state title with No. 29.

“That’s just how I like to finish it,” Fawcett said. “You get more team points and that’s what I like to do.”

Redington senior Myles Campbell won his third straight state title at a different weight class with a second-period pin of Haines sophomore Nolan Wald in the Division II boys 145-pound finals match.

Senior Bryant Holloway was the only finalist from Craig High School, and it was his mission to make the most of the opportunity. With a 9-2 decision victory over Mckennan Mayer in the boys Division II 189-pound weight class, he was able to complete an undefeated season by winning the first state title of his career after finishing fourth last year.

“I was nervous as heck and didn’t want to lose my undefeated streak,” Holloway said. “I’ve been wrestling for 13 years and this is awesome.”

Homer senior Roane Cook successfully defended her title at the girls 185-pound weight class with a third-period pin of Redington’s Nikayla Miller.

Gia Jones, of Colony High, is controlled by Jessailah Thammavongsa, of South High, at 165 pounds during the State Wrestling tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

After having her undefeated season spoiled last year by coming up short in the finals, South junior Jessailah Thammavongsa refused to let history repeat itself. She secured her first state title and undefeated season with a second-period pin of Colony’s Gia Jones in the girls 165-pound weight class.

“I’ve been putting in the hard work and it finally paid off,” Thammavongsa said.

In her third straight finals appearance, Barrow’s Manusiu Muti also completed an undefeated season by repeating as the state champion in the girls 235-pound weight class.

Noelle Buck of Palmer High tries to upend Manusiu Muti of Barrow High at 235 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. Muti won the championship match 6-0. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

Bettye Davis East Anchorage senior Deshawn Barbee made it to the state finals as a freshman at 103 pounds but came up short and finished fourth the past two years. With a commanding 11-5 decision victory over Wasilla’s Joseph Spangler in the 130-pound finals Saturday, he finally achieved his goal of reaching the top of the podium to close out his high school career.

“It’s been a long four years and it was all worth it,” Barbee said. “After those two years, I’ve been working harder and harder and listening to my coaches. I just have that dog mindset to go out there and not think about the match or my opponent, just stick to the game plan.”

[Practice partners with big ambitions, East senior wrestlers aim to go out on top in final state tournament]

Colony senior Matthew Mitchell made the most of his third straight state finals appearance by securing his second state title at a different weight class, with a third-period pin of Brian Grabner from the Student Wrestling Development Program at Division I boys 135 pounds.

His former rival at 125 pounds and fellow senior, Kenton Cooke of East, won a second straight state title at a different weight class by besting Soldotna’s Michael Dickinson with a 7-5 decision victory in the Division I boys 140-pound finals bout.

Palmer senior Cody Vansiegman accomplished an identical feat by winning his second straight career state title with a 5-1 decision victory over Colony sophomore Tristen Mayer at Division I boys 145 pounds in the last match of the night.

In the first match of the Division I boys finals, Soldotna’s Trevor Michael pulled off a stunning upset over top-seeded 152-pounder Zane Gerlach of South with a late pin in the third quarter with two seconds left on the clock after having trailed by several points.

The Wolverines didn’t have to wait long to have their first boys champion crowned: Senior Aaron Concepcion tied a bow on his undefeated season and illustrious prep career with a first-period pin of North Pole’s Simon Connolly in the Division I boys 160-pound finals bout.

“He got beat last year in the finals and had to bounce back with a phenomenal season,” Hanson said. “He pinned or tech-falled everybody he wrestled this year.”

Paul Dement, of Bethel High, competes against Colton Merriner, of Grace Christian, at 135 pounds during the Alaska State Wrestling Tournament at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday. (Bob Hallinen Photo)

ASAA 2023 State Championships

Girls

Team scores

1. Soldotna 212.0

2. Colony 115.5

3. Redington 82.0

4. Wasilla 79.0

5. Palmer 75.5

Finals results

100G

1st Place – Jessica LeClair of Soldotna

2nd Place – Kaelynn Seidl of Wasilla

3rd Place – Grace Loutzenhiser of Colony

4th Place – Megan Whittom of Soldotna

5th Place – Xiimara Salazar of Kotzebue

6th Place – Ke`ala Lawrence of North Pole

1st Place Match

Jessica LeClair (Soldotna) 28-2, Jr. over Kaelynn Seidl (Wasilla) 17-6, Sr. (Fall 3:01)

107G

1st Place – Valarie McAnelly of Soldotna

2nd Place – Lauren Bodeen of Eagle River

3rd Place – Hayden VanderPool of Colony

4th Place – Talia Jenkins of Chugiak

5th Place – Hailey Cook of Wrangell

6th Place – Megan Cornett of Kodiak

1st Place Match

Valarie McAnelly (Soldotna) 30-6, Fr. over Lauren Bodeen (Eagle River) 19-2, Sr. (Fall 5:27)

114G

1st Place – Megan Spencer of Lathrop

2nd Place – Jade Sherry of Student Wrestling Development Program

3rd Place – Della Churchill of Wrangell

4th Place – Nevaeh George of Mt. Edgecumbe

5th Place – Anna Belle Valentine of West Valley

6th Place – Angelina Chavarria of Soldotna

1st Place Match

Megan Spencer (Lathrop) 21-2, Sr. over Jade Sherry (Student Wrestling Development Program) 36-10, So. (Fall 3:44)

120G

1st Place – Rowan Peck of Soldotna

2nd Place – Pagan Lester of Newhalen

3rd Place – Danika Dawley of North Pole

4th Place – Krista Howland of Hoonah City

5th Place – Taryn Wright of Wasilla

6th Place – Nyah O`Neil of Dimond

1st Place Match

Rowan Peck (Soldotna) 34-8, Fr. over Pagan Lester (Newhalen) 30-4, So. (Dec 4-3)

126G

1st Place – Saoirse Cook of Homer

2nd Place – Sarah Callender of Palmer

3rd Place – Brynlee Lutz of Wasilla

4th Place – Mya Campbell of Redington

5th Place – Julia Biagi of Ketchikan

6th Place – Farah Brady of Lathrop

1st Place Match

Saoirse Cook (Homer) 27-1, So. over Sarah Callender (Palmer) 27-6, Jr. (Fall 5:17)

132G

1st Place – Kaytlin McAnelly of Soldotna

2nd Place – Isabel Lieb of Bethel

3rd Place – Desiree Moore of North Pole

4th Place – Olivia Probasco of Wasilla

5th Place – Audrey Bahnke of Mt. Edgecumbe

6th Place – Hailey Loose of Hutchison

1st Place Match

Kaytlin McAnelly (Soldotna) 42-5, Sr. over Isabel Lieb (Bethel) 35-1, Sr. (Dec 6-4)

138G

1st Place – Daisy Hannevold of Soldotna

2nd Place – Annika Johnson of Chugiak

3rd Place – Lillie Vansiegman of Palmer

4th Place – Lacey Sherman of Nome

5th Place – macy alander of Hydaburg Warriors

6th Place – Nevaeh Copeland of East

1st Place Match

Daisy Hannevold (Soldotna) 37-3, Jr. over Annika Johnson (Chugiak) 33-5, Jr. (Fall 3:03)

145G

1st Place – Amelia Fawcett of Colony

2nd Place – Saige Morris of South

3rd Place – Malila Miller of Service

4th Place – Abigail Patten of Craig

5th Place – Josephine Granger of Redington

6th Place – Lynn Fayram of Unalaska

1st Place Match

Amelia Fawcett (Colony) 29-0, Jr. over Saige Morris (South) 20-7, Jr. (TF-1.5 2:45 (15-0))

152G

1st Place – Jahzara O`Neil of Dimond

2nd Place – Carlie VanBuskirk of Valdez

3rd Place – Jenna Yeoman of Kenai Central

4th Place – Lexi Cook of Metlakatla High School

5th Place – Aspen Kelly of Colony

6th Place – Mia Wiederspohn of Wrangell

1st Place Match

Jahzara O`Neil (Dimond) 4-0, Sr. over Carlie VanBuskirk (Valdez) 25-1, Jr. (Dec 9-5)

165G

1st Place – Jessailah Thammavongsa of South

2nd Place – Gia Jones of Colony

3rd Place – Arianna Ryan of Cordova

4th Place – Venice Cabugao of Bartlett

5th Place – Joy Walker of Redington

6th Place – Alyssa McDonald of Soldotna

1st Place Match

Jessailah Thammavongsa (South) 24-0, Jr. over Gia Jones (Colony) 21-7, Sr. (Fall 3:50)

185G

1st Place – Roane Cook of Homer

2nd Place – Nikayla Miller of Redington

3rd Place – Keasiya Luedde of Service

4th Place – Thalia Martinez of Lathrop

5th Place – Allison Coffey of South

6th Place – Kelsey Charlie of Kwethluk

1st Place Match

Roane Cook (Homer) 27-1, Sr. over Nikayla Miller (Redington) 19-10, Jr. (Fall 5:43)

235G

1st Place – Manusiu Muti of Barrow

2nd Place – Noelle Buck of Palmer

3rd Place – Meg Roberts of Soldotna

4th Place – Honey Rexford of Barrow

5th Place – Destiny Langston of Nikiski

6th Place – Kimberly Tischner of Houston

1st Place Match

Manusiu Muti (Barrow) 17-0, Sr. over Noelle Buck (Palmer) 17-4, Jr. (Fall 2:51)

Division I Boys

Team scores

1. South 315.0

2. Student Wrestling Development Program 270.0

3. Soldotna 220.5

4. Colony 191.0

5. Palmer 124.0

Finals results

103

1st Place – Noah Justice of Colony

2nd Place – Dylan Frawner of South

3rd Place – Tanner Rhoton of Lathrop

4th Place – Hayden May of West Valley

5th Place – Dalton Koch of Lathrop

6th Place – Sam Henry of Soldotna

1st Place Match

Noah Justice (Colony) 34-5, Fr. over Dylan Frawner (South) 28-2, Fr. (Fall 1:50)

112

1st Place – Lincoln Werner of Student Wrestling Development Program

2nd Place – Carson Cobb of Soldotna

3rd Place – Max Francisco of East

4th Place – Camden Messmer of Thunder Mountain

5th Place – Benson Mishler of South

6th Place – Landyn Dunn of Thunder Mountain

1st Place Match

Lincoln Werner (Student Wrestling Development Program) 34-4, Fr. over Carson Cobb (Soldotna) 17-3, Fr. (M. For.)

119

1st Place – Anan Siackhasone of South

2nd Place – Titus Watts of Soldotna

3rd Place – Chase Foss of Wasilla

4th Place – Achilles Alexander of Wasilla

5th Place – Ryan Buchanan of Soldotna

6th Place – Kendall Wyble of Student Wrestling Development Program

1st Place Match

Anan Siackhasone (South) 36-4, Sr. over Titus Watts (Soldotna) 29-4, Fr. (Dec 8-4)

125

1st Place – Jacob Strausbaugh of Soldotna

2nd Place – Jacob Morris of South

3rd Place – Chance Halverson of Student Wrestling Development Program

4th Place – Frank Rodriguez of Student Wrestling Development Program

5th Place – Liam Rogers of Eagle River

6th Place – Zac Lomax of Lathrop

1st Place Match

Jacob Strausbaugh (Soldotna) 37-1, Jr. over Jacob Morris (South) 39-3, Fr. (MD 18-5)

130

1st Place – Deshawn Barbee of East

2nd Place – Joseph Spangler of Wasilla

3rd Place – Ty Harmon of Colony

4th Place – Levi Shivers of South

5th Place – Owen Peterson of Student Wrestling Development Program

6th Place – Tustin Keller of Soldotna

1st Place Match

Deshawn Barbee (East) 23-1, Sr. over Joseph Spangler (Wasilla) 27-8, Sr. (Dec 11-5)

135

1st Place – Matthew Mitchell of Colony

2nd Place – Brian Grabner of Student Wrestling Development Program

3rd Place – Michael Roschi of Eagle River

4th Place – Kaden Bush of North Pole

5th Place – Gage Massin of Ketchikan

6th Place – Dax Jones of Chugiak

1st Place Match

Matthew Mitchell (Colony) 26-1, Sr. over Brian Grabner (Student Wrestling Development Program) 34-5, Jr. (Fall 4:52)

140

1st Place – Kenton Cooke of East

2nd Place – Michael Dickinson of Soldotna

3rd Place – Thailyn Reynolds of Wasilla

4th Place – Ezekiel Bolton of Student Wrestling Development Program

5th Place – Hayden Reuter of Student Wrestling Development Program

6th Place – Hunter Cowan of Ketchikan

1st Place Match

Kenton Cooke (East) 26-0, Sr. over Michael Dickinson (Soldotna) 21-3, So. (Dec 7-5)

145

1st Place – Cody Vansiegman of Palmer

2nd Place – Tristen Mayer of Colony

3rd Place – Clayton McGuire of South

4th Place – Duke McGuffey of South

5th Place – Eugene Obukhovskiy of Wasilla

6th Place – Hunter Bras of Soldotna

1st Place Match

Cody Vansiegman (Palmer) 26-5, Sr. over Tristen Mayer (Colony) 37-9, So. (Dec 5-1)

152

1st Place – Trevor Michael of Soldotna

2nd Place – Zane Gerlach of South

3rd Place – Braidin Martin of Student Wrestling Development Program

4th Place – Gideon Schmidt of Eagle River

5th Place – Kaleb Boothby of Wasilla

6th Place – Justus Darbonne of Thunder Mountain

1st Place Match

Trevor Michael (Soldotna) 23-3, Jr. over Zane Gerlach (South) 40-2, Fr. (Fall 5:58)

160

1st Place – Aaron Concepcion of South

2nd Place – Simon Connolly of North Pole

3rd Place – Ezra Ginn of Palmer

4th Place – Liam Hase of West

5th Place – Branden Rhodes of Colony

6th Place – Hunter Terbeek of Student Wrestling Development Program

1st Place Match

Aaron Concepcion (South) 27-0, Sr. over Simon Connolly (North Pole) 35-3, Jr. (Fall 1:46)

171

1st Place – Roth Powers of South

2nd Place – Collin Peck of Soldotna

3rd Place – Jesse Conley of Student Wrestling Development Program

4th Place – Allen Hensen of South

5th Place – Suleyman Guliyev of West

6th Place – Bowen Korth of Soldotna

1st Place Match

Roth Powers (South) 42-1, Sr. over Collin Peck (Soldotna) 24-4, Sr. (Fall 5:02)

189

1st Place – Kaelan Vesel of Palmer

2nd Place – Gabriel Schumaker of South

3rd Place – Jimmy Runnels of Student Wrestling Development Program

4th Place – Thomas Weller of Colony

5th Place – Gage Runnels of Student Wrestling Development Program

6th Place – Carter Paulson of Palmer

1st Place Match

Kaelan Vesel (Palmer) 28-3, Jr. over Gabriel Schumaker (South) 41-5, Sr. (Dec 6-3)

215

1st Place – Spencer Johnson of Chugiak

2nd Place – Nolan Gallagher of Colony

3rd Place – Henry Rayburn of Lathrop

4th Place – Hayden Martin of South

5th Place – Paul Thompson of Ketchikan

6th Place – Kavik Skonberg of Kodiak

1st Place Match

Spencer Johnson (Chugiak) 31-2, Sr. over Nolan Gallagher (Colony) 24-2, Sr. (Fall 5:36)

285

1st Place – Arnold Baffour of Service

2nd Place – Chris Strawderman of South

3rd Place – Kenai Lepule of Soldotna

4th Place – Rueger Mothershead of Palmer

5th Place – Damien Fiame of Student Wrestling Development Program

6th Place – Malachy Cummings of North Pole

1st Place Match

Arnold Baffour (Service) 16-4, Sr. over Chris Strawderman (South) 29-2, Sr. (UTB 4-1)

Division II Boys

Team scores

1. Seward 184.0

2. Haines 137.0

3. Bethel 135.5

4. Mt. Edgecumbe 127.0

5. Kenai Central 91.0

Finals results

103

1st Place – Tommy Jarnig of Seward

2nd Place – Laiton Pingayak of Chevak

3rd Place – Paxton Lawhorne of Delta

4th Place – Brendon Brown of Quinhagak

5th Place – Caleb Gust of New Stuyahok

6th Place – Luca Fitzpatrick of Homer

1st Place Match

Tommy Jarnig (Seward) 30-4, Jr. over Laiton Pingayak (Chevak) 17-4 (TF-1.5 4:42 (16-0))

112

1st Place – Ridge Conant of Seward

2nd Place – Hayden Jimenez of Haines

3rd Place – Emery Kirchner of Seward

4th Place – Gusty Tunguing IV of Koliganek

5th Place – Brandon Ayapan of Bethel

6th Place – Young Erikson of Nome

1st Place Match

Ridge Conant (Seward) 30-8, Fr. over Hayden Jimenez (Haines) 17-5, Jr. (Fall 4:23)

119

1st Place – Dylan Mccambly of Dillingham

2nd Place – Aidan Schilling of Seward

3rd Place – Jaxson Young of Kenai Central

4th Place – Oran Brown of Delta

5th Place – Evan Andrew of Mt. Edgecumbe

6th Place – Ralph Steeves of Aniak

1st Place Match

Dylan Mccambly (Dillingham) 14-2, Jr. over Aidan Schilling (Seward) 25-10, Jr. (Dec 4-2)

125

1st Place – Daylon Brown of Quinhagak

2nd Place – Sheldon Smith of Bethel

3rd Place – Kyler Matteson of Eielson

4th Place – Ben Houser of Wrangell

5th Place – Hunter Gumlickpuk of New Stuyahok

6th Place – Cache Henning of Unalaska

1st Place Match

Daylon Brown (Quinhagak) 18-4, Sr. over Sheldon Smith (Bethel) 15-8, Jr. (Fall 1:26)

130

1st Place – Hunter Forshee-kurtz of Seward

2nd Place – Tristan Tilden of Dillingham

3rd Place – Aaron Mute of Bethel

4th Place – Jackson Carney of Wrangell

5th Place – Sean Mokiyuk of Savoonga

6th Place – Eli Banks of Houston

1st Place Match

Hunter Forshee-kurtz (Seward) 37-5, Jr. over Tristan Tilden (Dillingham) 19-8, So. (Fall 2:55)

135

1st Place – Paul Dyment of Bethel

2nd Place – Colton Merriner of Grace Christian

3rd Place – Alejandro Sanchez of Seward

4th Place – Justus Grimes of Homer

5th Place – Colton Combs of Haines

6th Place – Kai Davis of Sitka

1st Place Match

Paul Dyment (Bethel) 25-9, Sr. over Colton Merriner (Grace Christian) 14-5, Jr. (Dec 8-6)

140

1st Place – Daniel Steffensen of Kenai Central

2nd Place – Aidan Laselle of Redington

3rd Place – Anthony Smith of Seward

4th Place – Kennedy Elavgak of Barrow

5th Place – Aidan Klein of Delta

6th Place – Jackson Iverson of Bethel

1st Place Match

Daniel Steffensen (Kenai Central) 31-3, over Aidan Laselle (Redington) 22-13, Sr. (MD 16-5)

145

1st Place – Myles Campbell of Redington

2nd Place – Nolan Wald of Haines

3rd Place – Paul Minke of Homer

4th Place – Torian Dull of Mt. Edgecumbe

5th Place – Son Erikson of Nome

6th Place – Delen Byrd of Kenai Central

1st Place Match

Myles Campbell (Redington) 33-6, Sr. over Nolan Wald (Haines) 23-5, So. (Fall 3:05)

160

1st Place – Dalton Henry of Haines

2nd Place – Ellis Johnson of Bethel

3rd Place – Romen Weber of Valdez

4th Place – Samson Smith of Mt. Edgecumbe

5th Place – William Douglas of Delta

6th Place – Gabe Mannan of Hutchison

1st Place Match

Dalton Henry (Haines) 21-3, Jr. over Ellis Johnson (Bethel) 27-7, Sr. (Dec 6-4)

171

1st Place – Richard Didrickson of Mt. Edgecumbe

2nd Place – Leo Wald of Haines

3rd Place – Graelin Chaney of Dillingham

4th Place – Wyatt Milnes of Redington

5th Place – Zach Bergford of Cordova

6th Place – Corbin Owen of Grace Christian

1st Place Match

Richard Didrickson (Mt. Edgecumbe) 18-2, Jr. over Leo Wald (Haines) 23-3, Sr. (Dec 6-4)

189

1st Place – Bryant Holloway of Craig

2nd Place – Mckennan Mayer of Valdez

3rd Place – Landon Burke of Bethel

4th Place – Ryder Magneson of Nome

5th Place – James Stickler of Haines

6th Place – Vincent Nothstine of Cordova

1st Place Match

Bryant Holloway (Craig) 24-0, Sr. over Mckennan Mayer (Valdez) 24-5, Sr. (Dec 9-2)

215

1st Place – Aiden Ojala of Sitka

2nd Place – Truit Mccaughey of Nikiski

3rd Place – Jackson Long of Haines

4th Place – Silas Ferguson of Sitka

5th Place – Sioeli Tuifua of Barrow

6th Place – Jonathan Patterson of Eielson

1st Place Match

Aiden Ojala (Sitka) 23-5, Sr. over Truit Mccaughey (Nikiski) 25-3, Sr. (Fall 2:59)

285

1st Place – Uatahouse Tuifua of Barrow

2nd Place – Mayaac Schmit of Nikiski

3rd Place – Donovan Standifer of Mt. Edgecumbe

4th Place – John Vanbuskirk of Seward

5th Place – Norman Lilomaiava of Barrow

6th Place – Rex Wittmer of Nikiski

1st Place Match

Uatahouse Tuifua (Barrow) 21-0, Sr. over Mayaac Schmit (Nikiski) 25-5, Sr. (Fall 1:30)

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June 26, 2024

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Heat spreads across Alaska with no widespread rain in sight

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Tuesday was the fifth day in a row with above-average temperatures in Anchorage, and the 10th consecutive day without any measurable rainfall. This warm and dry trend will continue through the end of June, and likely into the first week of July.

High pressure is centered over the state. With the upper-level winds forced north, most of Alaska will stay storm-free.

The same cannot be said for the Aleutians or across the Bering Sea. An area of low pressure is spreading north, bringing high winds, rain, and a high surf to the northern Kuskokwim Bay coast. This area should be prepared for water levels to rise three to six feet above normal high tide. Wind gusts of 45 to 50 mph are also likely.

The Aleutians will also stay cool Wednesday, but high temperatures will climb back to the upper 60s and low 70s across Southcentral, mid- to upper 60s across Southeast, to the 80s across the Interior, and even to the 60s on the Slope.

Anchorage has already reached 75 degrees or above three times this month. We’ve only seen three days over 75 degrees in June six times in recorded history. The overall average temperature for June is only about half a degree above what is normal but is about 2 degrees above June to date of 2023. This month’s rainfall is also significantly lower than what most of Anchorage experienced last June, which brought 17 days with measurable precipitation, while this year, we’ve seen just four days with rain.

The number of active wildfires in the state is up to 222 as of Tuesday evening, and 22 of those are new in the past 24 hours. Fortunately, lighting activity was lower on Tuesday, with fewer than 1,000 strikes recorded. More than 5,000 lightning strikes were recorded in Alaska on Monday, and more than 6,000 were tallied on Sunday.

With high fire danger continuing, use extra caution to keep from adding any additional human-caused fires. Burn permits are suspended in the Mat-Su and Interior. Open fires are prohibited in Anchorage.

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Alaska

Report identifies opportunities restoring access to SE Alaska fisheries – The Cordova Times

Published

14 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Report identifies opportunities restoring access to SE Alaska fisheries – The Cordova Times

Floating oyster growing system by Erik O’Brien at Larsen Bay, Kodiak. Photo courtesy of Erik O’Brien

A new report compiled by the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust (ASFT) in Sitka finds that Southeast Alaska communities are losing access to fisheries, but also identifies opportunities for implementing new ways to restore such access for the region.

“Based on what we heard from the dozens of community members who participated in our survey, it is clear that Southeast’s communities, particularly Indigenous communities, are losing access to fisheries and their future access remains uncertain,” said Linda Behnken, ASFT board president. “However, it is also clear that we have some real opportunities when it comes to designing and implementing new tools to help restore this access and ensure that local needs are being factored into larger discussions and decisions concerning Southeast’s economy.”

The report, released June 18, compiles findings of a regional survey ASFT distributed to area residents this spring in collaboration with the Sustainable Southeast Partnership (SSP) — proposing ways to address issues. The report was funded by the Southeast Conference through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Southeast Alaska Sustainability Strategy initiative.

ASFT said the goal is to assist local communities by providing data and information for future dialogues and community development planning, increasing awareness and encouraging more funds for fishery access-related projects. Participating communities included Angoon, Craig, Haines, Kake, Ketchikan, Klawock, Klukwan, Juneau, Sitka, Wrangell, and Yakutat. 

Responses from these communities universally identified the fisheries as a crucial element of Southeast Alaska’s culture and economy moving forward. Respondents expressed concern about their ability to access and have a sustainable livelihood from local fisheries through traditional harvesting, commercial or recreational fishing.

Respondents’ key concerns included the changing climate and environment of Southeast Alaska and a sense of unpredictability for the future of marine resources. They expressed a lack of confidence that current scientific approaches to fishery management will be adequate in light of significant changes affecting the region and its resources due to climate change.

The report also discussed existing systems of governance that challenge access to fishery resources, challenges with limited access management at the state and federal levels and loss of community infrastructure such as processors, fish buyers, cold storage, marine services and/or transportation often initiated with the trend in outmigration of fishery access in remote communities.

Many participating area residents said the utmost priority is protection and perpetuation of a traditional way of life, with commercial fishing considered secondary, as a tool to bridge the traditional and cash economies.

They discussed the rapid growth of tourism in Southeast Alaska as something feeding competition and tensions between local-commercial and traditional-use harvesters and non-local harvesters in the sportfish sector.

The report included recommendations for building more equitable and accessible fisheries in Southeast Alaska, including incorporating climate change variability and unpredictability into fishery management tools to facilitate fishery access and to ensure that other industries, including tourism and mariculture, do not further limit fishery access.

Recommendations also included establishing regional entities to hold quota/permits (such as regional Community Quota Entities and regional fisheries trusts) and more investment in community infrastructure.
Behnken said that ASFT was grateful to everyone who shared their thoughts on this complex topic.

“We hope that this report will uplift their voices and be a chance for the public, policy makers, and others to better understand some of the challenges that many Southeast residents are facing so that we can collectively find solutions and build a resilient and vibrant future for Southeast’s fisheries and communities,” she said.

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Alaska

Hot and dry conditions lead to increasing wildfire danger across Alaska

Published

21 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Hot and dry conditions lead to increasing wildfire danger across Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Summer weather continues to build in across the state, as a ridge is greatly influencing the weather across Mainland Alaska. Temperatures have been warming into the 70s and 80s through the Interior, while Southcentral has seen highs in the 60s and the 70s. This stretch of warm weather will remain through the week, accompanied by possibly thunderstorm development.

While hot and dry conditions have been building, the Aleutians are dealing with wet and breezy weather. This comes as a low near the Aleutians continues to lift to the north. Expect widespread rain through parts of this region, with the heaviest rain near the Pribilof Islands. Winds will gust anywhere from 30 to 65 mph. As the rain pushes to the northeast, it will run into ridging and quickly taper off into Wednesday. Some light rain showers look possible through parts of Southwest Alaska tomorrow morning, before the rain comes to an end.

Outside of the Aleutians and areas with thunderstorm formation, Alaska will remain on the drier side this week. While the ridge isn’t strong enough to cap thunderstorm development, it will prevent its widespread activity. It’s likely isolated to scattered storms will persist through the Interior and in Southcentral Alaska. A quick reminder that burn permits have been suspended in the Mat-Su Valley and Fairbanks due to the hot and dry conditions.

Any storms across Southcentral today will primarily impact western parts of the Matanuska Valley, the foothills of the Talkeetna Mountains and into the Copper River Basin. Storm motion will be to the north, so Anchorage and surrounding locations will largely stay dry. A rogue thunderstorm can’t be ruled out for the Kenai, but any precipitation will come in the form of spotty to isolated morning showers.

This hot and dry weather pattern continues through the end of June. Here in Southcentral, the weekend is once again shaping up to warm into the 70s.

Have a wonderful and safe Tuesday!

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