Three Division I individual champions for the Soldotna Stars boys; one champion in the Girls Division for SoHi and a pair of Division II championships, one for Nikiski and one for Seward, highlighted the 2021 ASAA State Wrestling Championships competed at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Division I ASAA State Championships
The Soldotna Stars finished fourth in the team scoring with the Colony Knights winning a third-straight Division I state team championship.
SoHi athletes earned three, individual weight-class championships with the Stars sweeping three-straight, weight-class championship rounds.
At 171-pounds, Wayne Mellon completed an undefeated season with a 14-9 decision over Palmer’s Preston Long in the championship match.
At 189-pounds, Hunter Richardson recorded a 7-1 decision over #1 seed James Shivers from South Anchorage.
Liam Babitt, at 215-pounds, continued his dominance with a 4-0 decision West Valley’s Peter Macchione. Babitt wins his second-straight state championship with an undefeated season for the SoHi junior.
Runner-up finishes for the Stars included Jacob Strausbaugh at 103 pounds and Isaac Chavarria at 145 pounds. Strausbaugh fell 7-4 in the championship round; Chavarria dropped the final match 14-6 in the 145 weight class.
Other top finishes for SoHi in Division I Championships: Trevor Michael, fourth at 135; Scott Michael, fourth at 152; Ezekiel Miller, fifth at 125; Tustin Keller, sixth at 103; Saiyan Baker, sixth at 140.
Link to all Division I State Wrestling Results: Click Here!
Girls Division Championships
A three-peat for Soldotna High Schools’ Trinity Donovan highlighted the Girls Division for the ASAA State Wrestling Championships.
Donovan recorded her third-straight individual championship with a pin in the championship match; three pins n the tournament rounds; and Donovan finished an undefeated 36-0 season.
Other top finishes for the Kenai Peninsula included: Soldotna’s Daisy Hannevold, third at 135; Kenai’s Simone Watts, third at 160 and Homer’s Mischelle Wells, sixth at 235.
Link to all Girls Division State Wrestling Results: Click Here!
Division II ASAA State Championships
The Nikiski Bulldogs Simon Grenier recorded a 7-3 decision in the 171-pound championship final for the Division II state championship.
Nikiski’s Simon Grienier took home a state title for the Bulldogs, recording a 7-3 decision over Wrangell’s Ethan Blatchley in the final at 171. Grenier recorded pins in the first two rounds of competition. Nikiski’s Mayaac Schmit placed third at 285; Sam Yerkes placed sixth at 145.
The Seward Seahawks’ Aiden Schilling won the 103-pound weight class, entering as the #1 seed.
For the Kenai Kardinals, Andrew Gaethle finished as 152-pound runner-up, dropping a 9-2 decision in the finals at 152. Owen Whicker placed third at 130 pounds and Talon Whicker placed fourth at 125 pounds.
Link to all Division II State Wrestling Results: Click Here!
Photo courtesy of Andrea N Salty Bock Facebook Page