Homer wrestlers pick up pair of dual victories at Nikiski’s senior night

The Homer wrestling team continued rolling toward the postseason last Tuesday by taking a pair of dual meets at Nikiski.

The Mariners topped Nikiski 73-33 and Kenai 60-55. In the other dual of the night, Nikiski defeated Kenai 62-34.

Homer coach Bubba Wells said he knew coming into this season he had a large group of freshmen and sophomores, but due to that youth he didn’t know how the season would go.

Originally, Wells said the goal next season was to win the Kachemak Conference and take top three in the Division II state meet, but Wells may be moving up his timeline.

The coach said wrestling is a tough sport, but he’s loved how his team has stuck with it. Of 42 that started the season, 41 remain.

“It’s hard to keep them in there when you’re beating on them every day,” he said. “Then, all of the traveling.”

The wrestling season is short, so the action is condensed.

Homer did duals at Soldotna on Tuesday, Nov. 19. On Thursday, Nov. 21, the varsity wrestlers left for Kotzebue, while the rest of the team did duals in Seward.

Then Friday and Saturday, Nov. 22 and 23, the varsity competed at the Bush Brawl, with the boys scoring a dominant win and Christabelle Minke also winning an individual title. The rest competed in Seward, where five placed in the top three, Storey Cook took a title at 114-pound girls and Ryan Alcorta won the first match of her career at 145 girls.

Tuesday, Nov. 26, Homer traveled to Nikiski for more duals.

“I left most of them back today,” Wells said. “They’re beat up, they just got back and they have to catch up on their homework.”

Despite bringing five varsity wrestlers, the rest of the team was able to collect dual-meet wins in Nikiski, with Alcorta winning her second career match.

“Since I’ve got these advanced freshmen and sophomores, we’re going to try and take regions this year, and try and be top three at state,” Wells said.

Nikiski coach Kaden Spurgeon also said it was a fun night for his team.

The Bulldogs have 27 or 28 wrestlers in the room. There is just one senior — Wyatt Maguire — who was honored Tuesday. The rest of the wrestlers are mostly sophomores.

Spurgeon said seeing Maguire defeat Kenai’s Conner Cook on senior night was special because Cook is an experienced wrestler.

Spurgeon started helping the Nikiski team four years ago, and now is in his third year as head coach, so he’s seen Maguire through his career.

“I wish I had more than one of him because that’s just one kid trying to keep everybody else in line,” Spurgeon said. “He’s just the perfect example. I’m so thankful for him.

“I’ve got to see him grow up through his high school career, and he’s just doing everything right.”

Spurgeon also said Aiden Quiner picking up a victory was a highlight. Quiner missed wrestling last season due to injury.

“He’s been in the practice room every day,” Spurgeon said. “He’s started to collect some wins now at the end of the season.

“I’m excited for him.”

Spurgeon said this has been a fun year of coaching because the wrestlers are so young and there aren’t serious expectations.

“They’re just kind of taking a move we learned this week, and going out and trying it,” he said. “It’s super fun for me as a coach.

“It’s been really exciting to watch this year develop, because you can see it so vividly.”

Spurgeon said the only disappointment has been illness that has gone through the school. He said with such a short season and limited practice time, missing practices due to sickness adds up.

The coach said the wrestlers now are getting ready for the stacked Kachemak Conference tourney.

“It’s a brutal region, but the kids know that,” he said. “They’re primed, and I think they’ve been training for that moment well. I’m excited.”

Kenai head coach Jason Chavarria also said his team has been hit by a lot of sickness this season.

“The kids keep getting sick, repeatedly,” he said.

The coach said that’s made for a tough season.

He did say the girls on the team looked good Tuesday.

“I’m proud of my girls,” Chavarria said. “All of them stepped it up and kept moving.

“They looked a lot different from the beginning of the season until now.”

Chavarria said the team has always closed strong under him and he’s hoping this season will be no different.

“We pick it up at regions and all of a sudden it all comes together,” he said. “Fingers crossed.”

Tuesday

Homer 73, Nikiski 33

112 — Aiden Quiner, Nik, p. Lucien Faucher, 3:58; 119 — Luca Fitzpatrick, Hom, p. Michael Fowler, 3:02; 125 — Double forfeit; 130 — Noah Playle, Nik, won by forfeit; 135 — Jaxson Young, Nik, tf Daniel Kulikov, 2:17; 140 — Merrick Roofe, Nik, p. Oriley Richardson, 1:19; 145 — Paul Minke, Hom, p. Wyatt Maguire, 3:23; 152 — Justus Grimes, Hom, p. Sloan Wittmer, 1:29; 160 — Brayden Woods, Hom, p. Brody Nelson, 0:41; 171 — Alexander Van Meter, Hom, dec. Mason Doth, 7-4; 171 — Alexander Van Meter, Hom, p. Kai Tuttle, 2:00; 189 — Gaius Taylor, Hom, won by forfeit; 215 — Adgel Chandler, Hom, won by forfeit; 285 — Breaker Schmit, Nik, won by forfeit; 100G — Double forfeit; 107G — Heather Shae, Hom, won by forfeit; 114G — Storey Cook, Hom, won by forfeit; 120G — Christabelle Minke, Hom, p. Jade Hemphill, 1:06; 126G — Double forfeit; 132G — Double forfeit; 138G — Ryan Alcorta, Hom, p. Charlee Sullivan, 1:21; 145G — Double forfeit; 152G — Double forfeit; 165G — Double forfeit; 185G — Elliana Isabell, Nik, md Araya Andres, 10-1; 235G — Double forfeit; 103 — Double forfeit; 171 (exhibition) — Gabriel Bradshaw, Hom, p. Regan Savely, 0:36.

Homer 60, Kenai 55

103 — Double forfeit; 112 — Lucien Faucher, Hom, won by forfeit; 119 — Luca Fitzpatrick, Hom, p. Chase Johnson, 1:26; 125 — Double forfeit; 130 — Tattum Gutierrez, Ken, won by forfeit; 135 — Daniel Kulikov, Hom, won by forfeit; 140 — Zayne Adams, Hom, won by forfeit; 145 — Paul Minke, Hom, p. Conner Cook, 2:38; 152 — Schyler Johnson, Ken, md Ty Gibby, 17-5; 152 — Daniel Steffensen, Ken, won by forfeit; 160 — Brayden Woods, Hom, p. Brayden Abeyta, 0:55; 171 — Atlas Ruark, Ken, dec. Alexander Van Meter, 5-1; 189 — Thaddeus Lingenfelter, Ken, p. Gaius Taylor, 4:36; 215 — Bryce Jolicoeur, Ken, p. Adgel Chandler, 2:29; 285 — Lochlyn Roney, Ken, won by forfeit; 100G — double forfeit; 107G — Heather Shae, Hom, won by forfeit; 114G — Storey Cook, Hom, won by forfeit; 120G — Christabelle Minke, Hom, won by forfeit; 126G — Jadeyn Jacko, Ken, won by forfeit; 132G — Double forfeit; 138G — Layla Anderson, Ken, p. Ryan Alcorta, 2:42; 145G — Rylee Trent, Ken, won by forfeit; 152G — Double forfeit; 165G — Double forfeit; 185G — Araya Andres, Hom, won by forfeit; 235G — Double forfeit.

Nikiski 62, Kenai 34

112 — Aiden Quiner, Nik, won by forfeit; 119 — Michael Fowler, Nik, p. Chase Johnson, 0:14; 125 — Double forfeit; 130 — Spencer Peterkin, Nik, tf Tattum Gutierrez, 6:00; 135 — Jaxson Young, Nik, won by forfeit; 140 — Darren Powell, Nik, won by forfeit; 145 — Wyatt Maguire, Nik, p. Conner Cook, 2:56; 152 — Daniel Steffensen, Ken, p. Sloan Wittmer, 0:28; 160 — Connor Ley, Nik, p. Brayden Abeyta, 1:50; 171 — Mason Doth, Nik, p. Leighton Wilshusen, 3:40; 189 — Neil King, Ken, won by forfeit; 189 — Jason Johnson, Ken, won by forfeit; 285 — Breaker Schmit, Nik, dec. Lochlyn Roney, Ken, 3-0; 100G — Double forfeit; 107G — Double forfeit; 114G — Double forfeit; 120G — Jade Hemphill, Nik, won by forfeit; 126G — Jadeyn Jacko, Ken, p. Willow Lahndt, 1:24; 132G — Braylynn Young, Nik, won by forfeit; 138G — Layla Anderson, Ken, won by forfeit; 145G — Rylee Trent, Ken, md Addison Perkins, 13-0; 152G — Double forfeit; 165G — Double forfeit; 185G — Double forfeit; 235G — Double forfeit; 103 — Double forfeit.

Kenai Central’s Thaddeus Lingenfelter works his pay to a win of Homer’s Gaius Taylor on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Wyatt Maguire works his way to a pin of Kenai Central’s Conner Cook on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Atlas Ruark works his way to a 5-1 decision over Homer’s Alexander Van Meter on Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, at Nikiski Middle-High School in Nikiski, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)