Nikiski sent 10 wrestlers to the state tournament and compiled 209 points on its way to winning the Denali/Kachemak Conference Championships Saturday at Anchorage Christian Schools.
The top five wrestlers in each weight class advance to the small schools state tournament next weekend at Bartlett, and the Bulldogs had two champions, three runner-ups and five other wrestlers finish in the top five.
Claiming titles for Nikiski were Nathan Stangel at 125 pounds and Morgan Sauve at 119.
Cordova, which had four individual champions and advanced nine wrestlers to state, finished second with 184 points. Seward (153) was third and Anchorage Christian (151) was close behind in fourth.
Luke Charters of Anchorage Christian was named the Wrestler of the Year for the conference. Charters won the 130-pound division with an 18-2 technical fall over Nikiski's Matt Parker.
Denali/Kachemak Conference Championships
Team Standings
1) Nikiski 209; 2) Cordova 184; 3) Seward 153); 4) Anchorage Christian 151; 5) Voznesenka 109; 6) Valdez 105; 7) Hutchison 94.5; 8) Grace Christian 85.5; 9) Glennallen 72; 10) Eielson 50.5; 11) Galena 48; 12) Ninilchik 44; 13) Cantwell, Seldovia 17 (tie); 14) Tok 7.
Individual Results
103 -- First Place -- Keifer Groenveld (Val) p. Anthony Tamblyn (GCS) 3:38; Third Place -- Misha O'Leary (Sew) d. Chris Smith (E) 12-8; Fifth Place --Trey Zimmerman (Nik) p. Andrew Jensen (H) 1:02.
112 -- First Place -- Jed Wilde (Sew) p. Dillon Gilroy (ACS) 3:27; Third Place -- Matthew Hatter (GCS) d. Troi West (Nik) 5-1; Fifth Place -- Dustin Elsberry (H) p. Shiloh Joyce (Cor) 1:01.
119 -- First Place -- Morgan Sauve (Nik) p. Brandon Hursh (Val) 1:09; Third Place -- Cody Gilroy (ACS) p. Eli Keep-Barnes (H) 3:05; Fifth Place -- Carsen Trumblee (Cor) p. Adam Zamudio (Cor/un) 1:38.
125 -- First Place -- Nathan Stangel (Nik) d. Jayden Tumbaga (Nik/un) 12-7; Third Place -- Daniel Tedrick (ACS) p. Brenton Meier (Sew) 1:55; Fifth Place -- Bullet Boyles (GCS) p. Savannah Fackler (Sew/un) 1:07
130 -- First Place -- Luke Charters (ACS) t.f. Matt Parker (Nik) 18-2; Third Place -- David Scerbak (H) m.d. Josh Brown (Nik/un) 13-4 Fifth Place -- Glenn Norcross (Sew) d. Bryce Nichols (Can) D 12-9
135 -- First Place -- Matthew Downing (Val) d. Daniel Brandon (ACS) 9-6; Third Place -- Corey Green (Nik) d. Joe Martishev (Voz) 7-6; Fifth Place -- Darin Gilman (Cor) p. Kovy Harbick (Nik/un) 4:46.
140 -- First Place -- Kyle Mundy (Cor) p. Brooks Sutter (GCS) 4:59; Third Place -- Brandon Bahnke (ACS) d. Jeff Klapak (Nin) 3-1; Fifth Place -- Shane Douglas (Sew) d. Rudy Martinez (H) 11-6.
145 -- First Place -- Seth Balint (Cor) d. Nick Brockman (Glen) 7-5 Third Place -- Tyler Peek (Nik) p. Zenovei Martushoff (Voz) 3:48; Fifth Place -- Matthew Rogers (E) t.f Nick Markowitz (Sew) 16-0.
152 -- First Place -- Blake Platt (Cor) d. Kaden Spurgeon (Nik) 9-2; Third Place -- Paul Amore (ACS) p. Justin Klapak (Nin) 1:53; Fifth Place -- Vince Fricilone (H) p. Sam Borrego (E) 5:18.
160 -- First Place -- Justin Allen (Val) p. Zenon Martushev (Voz) 2:36; Third Place -- Lincoln Johnson (Nik) m.d. Matt Adams (Cor) 10-2; Fifth Place --Matthew Gain (Sel) p. Ralston Ferguson (Gal/un) 1:58.
171 -- First Place -- Bryan Carrillo (Cor) m.d. Francis Katogan (Gal) 10-2; Third Place -- Kyle Armour (E) m.d. Joe Nyholm (Sew) 11-3; Fifth Place -- Luke Rietveld (Glen) d. Quinn Bennett (Nin) 5-2.
189 -- First Place -- John Kavairlook (Gal) m.d. Billy Markowitz (Sew) 13-4; Third Place -- Matthew Birky (GCS) p. James Logan (Sew/un) 4:45; Fifth Place -- McKyer Trumblee (Cor) d. Joshua Dewey (Gal/un) 6-3.
215 -- First Place -- Kyle Kain (Sew) p. Julian Polushkin (Voz) 1:08; Third Place -- Wade Simpson (Glen) p. Ted Velasco (Cor) 1:16; Fifth Place -- Solomon Finau (Glen/un) p. Terrence Korenev (Val) 3:10.
285 -- First Place -- Leo Polushkin (Voz) p. Henry Eide (Nik) 2:13; Third Place -- Samisoni Finau (Glen) p. Alex Rietveld (Glen/un) 1:39; Fifth Place --Leon Hood (Sew) p. Clay Easterling (H) F 1:25
Mid-Alaska tourney
North Pole senior Eric Antesberger made an incredible comeback from a crippling car accident two weeks ago, keeping his hopes of another state championship alive with a second-place finish at the Mid-Alaska Conference Championships on Saturday.
The 17-year-old finished second in the 160-pound weight class, falling to Lathrop's Brandon Weise in the championship match. The top three finishers in each weight class advance to the 4A State Tournament next weekend at Chugiak.
Antesberger, the 152-pound state champion last year, was injured in a head-on collision on Nov. 22. The other driver was arrested on drunken driving and assault charges.
The crash left Antesberger with lacerations on both knees that need to be double-stitched. His father told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner that his son's high school wrestling career was probably over.
Last week Eric Antesberger told the News-Miner, "There's a small chance I might still be able to wrestle. It just depends on how my knees heal."
Lathrop crowned seven individual champions and won the conference title.
Mid-Alaska Conference
Team Scores
1) Lathrop 369; 2) North Pole 289; 3) West Valley 168.5; 4) Houston 83
State Qualifiers
103 -- 1) Gage Wright, (NP); 2) JD Wood, (NP); 3) John Wallingford, (L). 112 -- 1) Dillon Achman, (L); 2) Cody Decker, (NP); 3) Adam Wood, (NP). 119 -- 1) Joe Hughes, (L); 2) Tommy Gillen, (L); 3) Trevor Kiser, (NP). 125 -- 1) Cyle Ercolino, (NP); 2) Eric Tupper, (L); 3) Drew Drake, (H). 130 -- 1) Kyle Curry, (L); 2) Dalton Barrie, (NP); 3) Sam Zimmerman, (L). 135 -- 1) Jake Rahlfs, (NP); 2) Chris Frazier, (NP); 3) Taylor Osborn, (L) 140 -- 1) Steven Temple, (L); 2) Dominic Smith, (NP); 3) Nick Krohe, (WV) 145 -- 1) Kevin Jutila, (NP); 2) Larry Swanson, (L); 3) Andy Gocke, (H) 152 -- 1) Trent Lemons, (L); 2) Aaron Reese, (H); 3) Garrett Elder, (H) 160 -- 1) Brandon Weise, (L); 2) Eric Antesberger, (NP); 3) Chris Nuttall, (WV) 171 -- 1) Trent Shepersky, (NP); 2) Kwame Ward, (L); 3) Sam Huff, (WV) 189 -- 1) Jerry Johnson, (WV); 2) Kegan Severns, (L); 3) Alexander Gudschinsky, (L) 215 -- 1) Brandon Nichols, (L); 2) Luke Goepfert, (WV); 3) Thomas Antal, (WV) 285 -- 1) Ray Garris-Shoemaker, (WV); 2) Ryan Williams, (L); 3) Cole Foster, (L)
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