Wrestling

Returning to the mat

Most of the 850 wrestlers gathered to grapple at Wasilla's Menard Sports Complex for this week's Alaska USA Wrestling State Tournament in Wasilla are kids, some as young as 5.

Photos: Alaska USA Wrestling State Tournament

Chugiak wrestler ousted at US trials

Chugiak wrestler Melissa Apodaca's shot at making the Olympic team ended swiftly Sunday at the U.S. trials in Iowa City, Iowa -- but don't expect her to make a swift exit from the sport.

Hutchison eliminated in semifinals of Olympic wrestling trials

Soldotna's Michaela Hutchison made it to Saturday's semifinals at the U.S. Olympic wrestling trials before her attempt to earn a spot on the Olympic women's wrestling team was derailed by a pair of one-point losses.

Chugiak wrestler is a success in life despite childhood

Chugiak wrestler is a success in life despite childhood

Melissa Apodaca has been training six hours a day with the goal of representing the United States in one of the toughest sports around, freestyle wrestling. The 22-year-old's typical day includes running and lifting weights followed by a couple hours of technique work and sparring.

Wrestler raises awareness with children's foundation

Melissa Apodaca is trying to make the Olympic wrestling team, but even as she fights for a chance to represent her country, Apodaca's life isn't just about the red, white and blue. It's also about the blue, purple and teal.

Alaska sports roundup (4/5/12)

Roundup of Alaska sports events

Chugiak's Byers third in NCAA wrestling championships

Chugiak's Cayle Byers capped his college career by capturing third place and claiming All-America honors at the NCAA Division I wrestling championships Saturday in St. Louis.

Service rules state mat once again

When Service senior Jacob Lunsford won his first state wrestling championship Saturday, he did so emphatically with a pin in the closing seconds of the 138-pound final against Wasilla's Nate McKimson.

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Wasilla, Service lead at state tourney

Nobody was more relieved to arrive at the state wrestling tournament than Caleb Pempek, a member of the defending state champion Wasilla team who totaled his truck Friday morning on the way to Bartlett High.

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

State wrestling tournament begins today

Wasilla will begin its defense of the Class 4A state wrestling title today at Bartlett High, where the best wrestlers from the state's largest schools will begin preliminary matches at 10 a.m.

Service cruises to wrestling title

A seemingly endless parade of Service wrestlers made their way to the championship mat Saturday at the Cook Inlet Conference tournament, where the Cougars participated in 11 of 14 finals at Chugiak High.

Blind wrestler pushes self as he learns basics

His moves on the mat are so fluid and without hesitation, it's difficult to tell West High wrestler Paul Tandy is blind, his disability only becoming evident when the whistle blows and the sophomore is guided back to the center of the mat by a referee.

Slide show: Wrestler Paul Tandy

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Ellis, Service wrestlers dominate at CIC tourney

When Service wrestler Stephen Ellis is preparing for a match, he walks around the gym like a predator stalking his prey, occasionally stopping to bounce on the balls of his feet.

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Palmer, Wasilla sweep

The Palmer and Wasilla wrestling teams both went undefeated Friday at the Valley vs. City Duals at South High, a prep meet pitting three teams from the Valley against three teams from Anchorage.

Service wrestlers rule quad meet

Service High swept a Cook Inlet Conference quad meet at West on Wednesday, knocking off South, Dimond and West.

Cougars dominate wrestling tournament

The Services Cougars overwhelmed the field at the Glenn Vandergaw Invitational wrestling tournament at Dimond, capturing the team title by a wide margin and producing seven individual champions.

Service 63, Eagle River 12 in high school wrestling

Service wrestlers won 12 of 14 matches Wednesday, defeating Eagle River 63-12 in a Cook Inlet Conference dual meet at Service.

Wasilla wins Colony invitational wrestling tournament

Getting wins from Abe Fox, Austin Gonzalez and Adam Akelkok, Wasilla won the Colony Invitational wrestling tournament at Colony High on Friday.

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Cougars 9th in N.D.

Led by heavyweight Erich Pili, who finished second overall, the Service High wrestling team finished ninth among 60 teams at the Rumble on the Red Wrestling Championships in Fargo, N.D.

Bartlett wrestler takes 2nd at national meet

Bartlett High wrestler Caleb Green claimed second place and All-American status last weekend at the Reno Tournament of Champions, a Nevada tournament that's known as the toughest tournament in the country for high school and colleg wrestlers.

Cougars take wrestling Classic

Three Service wrestlers claimed individual titles Saturday, lifting the Cougars to the team championship in the West Christmas Classic wrestling tournament at West High.