2 Homer wrestlers win titles at Lancer Smith Memorial

The Soldotna girls wrestling team won the Lancer Smith Memorial on Friday and Saturday at Menard Arena in Wasilla, while the Soldotna boys were second.

In Alaska’s short wrestling season, the Lancer Smith is the biggest and best opportunity for all wrestlers in the state — regardless of school size — to compete against each other.

The Soldotna girls scored 156 points, while Colony was the runner-up at 131.5.

Also from the Kenai Peninsula, Homer was 13th, Nikiski was 15th, Seward was 32nd and Kenai was 33rd.

Winning championships for the Soldotna girls were Jessica LeClair at 100 pounds and Daisy Hannevold at 138.

Also for the Stars, Megan Whittom was fifth at 100, Valarie McAnelly was second at 107, Angelina Chavarria was fourth at 120, Rowan Peck was third at 120, Kaytlin McAnelly was third at 132 and Meg Roberts was fifth at 235.

Homer received championships from Saoirse Cook at 126 and Roane Cook at 185.

Destiny Langston led Nikiski by finishing third at 235, while Paisley Maxwell was sixth at 107.

In the boys tournament, defending Division I champion South won with 265 points, while Soldotna was second with 246.5 and the Student Wrestling Development Program was third with 188.5.

Seward was ninth, and the top Division II program. Homer was 17th, Nikiski was 20th and Kenai Central was 25th.

Winning championships for the Stars were Titus Watts at 119, Jacob Strausbaugh at 125, Hunter Bras at 145 and Bowen Korth at 171.

Also for SoHi, Sam Henry was fifth at 103, Carson Cobb was fifth at 112, Ryan Buchanan was fourth at 119, Tustin Keller was fifth at 130, Michael Dickinson was second at 140, Trevor Michael was third at 152, Ryatt Weed was sixth at 152 at Collin Peck was third at 189.

Tommy Jarnig, Hunter Forshee-Kurtz and John Van Buskirk powered Seward to its high finish.

Jarnig was second at 103, while Forshee-Kurtz was third at 130 and Van Buskirk was third at 285.

For Homer, Brayden Woods was fifth at 152 and Justus Grimes was sixth at 135.

Daniel Steffensen led Kenai by placing fifth.

Soldotna junior Daisy Hannevold tries to turn Palmer’s Lillie Vansiegman during the girls 138-pound final of the Lancer Smith Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla. (Photo by Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman)

Seward junior Tommy Jamig tries to get a reversal against South Anchorage’s Dylan Frawner during the 103-pound final of the Lancer Smith Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman)

Soldotna junior Jacob Strausbaugh battles Soth Anchorage’s Jacob Morris during the 125-pound final of the Lancer Smith Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, at the Menard Arena in Wasilla, Alaska. (Photo by Jeremiah Bartz/Frontiersman)