Bethel wrestler caps brilliant career by winning 4th state title

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Thomas Dyment, from Bethel, is on his way to a pin against Maxim Kusnetsov, of Voznesenka, to win the 113 lbs. Division II Alaska State wrestling championships at the Alaska Airlines Center at UAA on Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. In Anchorage, Alaska. (Bob Hallinen / ADN)

Led by a senior who joined an elite group of four-time state wrestling champions, the Bethel Warriors overcame a 40-point deficit Saturday to capture their second straight Division II state wrestling title.

Thomas Dyment completed an undefeated season by pinning Voznesenka's Maxim Kusnetsov 52 seconds into the 113-pound championship match at the Alaska Airlines Center.

The victory made Dyment the 11th Alaska boy, and the first from Bethel, to win four individual wrestling crowns.

"It's a lot of hard work to get here," Dyment said. "Last summer I spent the entire summer wrestling."

Dyment's achievement was the highlight of a two-day meet that featured four undefeated champions — two of them from Anchorage — and a big comeback by the Warriors, who rallied past 2015 champion Homer for their sixth state team championship in eight years .

"Being down 40 points after the first day is tough for anybody to recover (from), but I knew mathematically it was doable," Bethel coach Darren Lieb said. "We had a nice meeting last night at the hotel, and the kids understood what needed to be done."

Dyment did his job. He racked up his second straight undefeated season to finish his high school career with a 127-7 record.

Dyment began his string of state titles with consecutive 98-pound titles as a freshman. He was 35-4 as a freshman and 29-3 as a sophomore. He was 35-0 this season and 28-0 last season, when he won the 106-pound state title.

"I can't say enough about that kid," Lieb said. "He's just a real strong, hard-working kid, and we're proud of him."

Two wrestlers from Anchorage finished the season with undefeated records. Michael Lucas of Holy Rosary Academy capped a 38-0 season by winning the 160-pound title, and Evan Bockman wrapped up a 32-0 season by winning the 182-pound title.

Also going undefeated was Homer's Luciano Fasulo. His victory in the 132-pound final gave him a 47-0 record and gave Homer four individual champions. Seth Inama (120 pounds), Mose Hayes (138) and Levi King (195) were the others.

But the Mariners weren't able to protect their first-day lead over Bethel, which finished with 207 points to Homer's 196.

Joining Dyment as individual champs for Bethel were Hayden Lieb at 145 pounds and Mian Alexie-Leonard at 152.

ASAA/First National Bank Division II wrestling championships

Team scores

Bethel 207, Homer 196, Barrow 101, Dillingham 98, Glennallen 94.5, Grace Christian 90, Kotzebue 81, Unalaska 71, Mt. Edgecumbe 67.5, Voznesenka 62.5, Wrangell 58.5, Sitka 58, Anchorage Christian 51.5, Monroe 51.5, Craig 50, Eielson 50, Houston 48, Klawock 47, Nome 46, Redington 43.5, Aniak 36, Hutchison 28, Holy Rosary Academy 26, New Stuyahok 26, Petersburg 26, Delta 23, Napaskiak 22, Seward 18, Su Valley 17, Nikiski 15, Noatak 6, Metlakatla 5, Glacier View 4, Haines 4, Quinhagak 4, Koyuk 3, Newhalen 3, Nunapitchuk 3, Sand Point 3, Shaktoolik 3, Shungnak 3, Galena 2, Gambell 2, Nenana 2, Bristol Bay 1, Unalakleet 1.

First-place matches

98 – Caleb O`Hara (Anchorage Christian) m.d. James Paris (Redington), 12-1.

106 — Deven Perez (Eielson) d. Jarius Allain (Bethel), 6-4.

113 — Thomas Dyment (Bethel) p. Maxim Kusnetsov (Voznesenka), :52.

120 — Seth Inama (Homer) d. Blunka Blunka Jr. (New Stuyahok), 8-3.

126 — Riley Rust (Monroe) d. Wayne Newman (Homer), 3-2.

132 — Luciano Fasulo (Homer) 47-0 m.d. Jesse Noden (Dillingham), 19-9.

138 — Mose Hayes (Homer) d. Kye Pearce (Hutchison), 4-2.

145 — Hayden Lieb (Bethel) p. Jonas Heppe (Klawock), 5:19.

152 — Mian Alexie-Leonard (Bethel) d. James Heppe (Klawock), 5-3.

160 — Michael Lucas (Holy Rosary) d. Kyler Sumauang (Sitka), 7-1.

170 — Caden Gerlach (Glennallen) p. Justin Ward (Aniak), 2:52.

182 — Evan Bockman (Grace Christian) d. Tristen Cook (Homer), 9-2.

195 — Levi King (Homer) m.d. Sione Tuifua (Barrow), 13-3.

220 — Tanner Clark (Monroe) d. Kyle Wells (Homer), 1-0.

285 – Haley Osborne (Mt. Edgecumbe) d. Dylan Jackson (Houston), 2-0.

Third-place matches

98 — Clay Petersen (Seward) d. Stephen Maxie (Napaskiak), 9-5.

106 — Jonathan Barratt (Wrangell) d. Jude Merriner (Grace Christian), 12-5.

113 — Michael Hatch (Kotzebue) m.d. Matthew Bohlman (ACS), 11-2.

120 — Seth Smith (Bethel) d. Justin Dye (Dillingham), 2-1.

126 — Jason Montes (Delta) p. Mathew Hunter (Bethel), 1:56.

132 — Dustin Ruckman (Unalaska) d. Elden Cross (Nome), 7-1.

138 — Leon Evon (Mt. Edgecumbe) p. Dillon Chaney (Dillingham), 2:38.

145 — Ben Cross (Nome) p. Aengus Bancroft (Glennallen), 2:46.

152 — Sid Fleming (Sitka) m.d. Hunter Wiederspohn (Wrangell), 13-4.

160 — Gabe Martin (Grace Christian) m.d. Bryan Castle (Craig), 12-3.

170 — Ethan Roetman (Kotzebue) p. Chris Cudaback (Homer), 4:43.

182 — Aiden Jolley (Susitna Valley) p. Sven Williams (Bethel), 1:43.

195 — Kayden Bird (Craig) p. Seth Henning (Unalaska), 4:20.

220 — Arthur Freitas (Mt. Edgecumbe) d. Benjamin Joe Heather (Barrow), 7-4.

285 — Oneahi Talaiasi (Barrow) p. Vakameilalo Tuifua (Barrow), 3:56.

Four-time state champs

Thomas Dyment, Bethel, 2014-17
Seth Hutchison, Skyview/Soldotna 2012-15
Jared Miller, Dillingham, 2008-11
Matthew Malnoske, East 2007-10
Nathan Hoffer, East 2006-09
Hollan Gravely, Colony 2003-07
David Wiese, West Valley 2002-06
Eli Hutchison, Skyview 2002-06
Jed Wade, Wasilla 2000-04
Matt Mattson, West Valley 1989-94
Gary Steeby, Chugiak 1970-74