The Homer wrestling team started off its season on a strong note by dominating the Best Western Bidarka Round Robin Rumble tournament over the weekend.
Held Saturday at Homer High School, the tourney hosted teams from Soldotna, Nikiski and Kenai Central High School. Homer won the event with 200 points, ahead of runners-up Soldotna at 169 points.
Several Homer wrestlers took first place in their respective weight classes. They were: Cecilia Fitzpatrick at 119 girls, Sadie Blake at 130 girls, Austin Cline at 125 pounds, Mose Hayes at 160, Edson Knapp at 171, Anthony Kalugin at 189, and Ryan Hicks at 215.
The head coach this year is Justin Zank, who was also the new head football coach this fall. The team has a lot of young members, but the weight classes are pretty well filled out other than a gap from 130-140 pounds.
“It’s better than six guys in a lineup, which is what I’m used to,” Zank said. Zank coached the Head of the Bay Cougars football and wrestling teams until this year. Both those teams were significantly smaller.
He now has a team made up of students from both Homer High School and from the schools in the Russian Old Believer villages at the head of Kachemak Bay.
“We’re got more competition in the room now, so that benefits everybody involved,” Zank said of the team makeup.
Team results:
1. Homer, 200; 2. Soldotna, 169; 3. Nikiski, 124; 4. Kenai Central High School, 51;
Individual results:
103 — 1. Salvatore McMaster, Soldotna; 2. Zander Moore, Homer; 3. Carlos Rodriguez, Nikiski. 119 — 1. Joey Yourkoski, Nikiski; 2. Owen Whicker, Kenai; 3. Simon Secor, Soldotna; 4. Kayden Crosby, Homer. 125 — 1. Austin Cline, Homer; 2. Russell Nyvall, Homer; 3. Rey Perez, Kenai. 130 — 1. Jaryn Zoda, Nikiski; 2. Andrew Gaethle, Kenai; 3. Saiyan Baker, Soldotna; 4. Michael Duncan, Homer; 5. Peyton Lawton, Soldotna. 135 — 1. Isaac Chavarria, Soldotna; 2. Brady Bostic, Nikiski; 3. Christian Caddock, Nikiski; 4. Isaiah Ticknor, Kenai; 5. Yourik Bastuch, Nikiski. 140 — 1. Jakob Brown, Soldotna; 2. Jordan Fleming, Nikiski; 3. Thomas Anderson, Soldotna. 145 — 1. Zach Burns, Soldotna; 2. Nestor Kalugin, Homer; 3. Quinn Baze, Kenai. 152 — 1. Mason Payne, Nikiski; 2. Cayleb Diaz, Homer; 3. Josh Hall, Soldotna. 160 — 1. Mose Hayes, Homer; 2. Simon Grenier, Nikiski; 3. Pedro Souza, Nikiski; 4. Dakota Moonin, Homer; 5. Zach Halstead, Kenai; 6. Clifford McElrea, Soldotna. 171 — 1. Edson Knapp, Homer; 2. Jordan Henley, Soldotna; 3. Timothy Goodnight, Nikiski; 4. Isaac Denbrock, Kenai. 189 — 1. Anthony Kalugin, Homer; 2. Sean Babitt, Soldotna; 3. Koleman McCaughey, Nikiski; 4. Liam Babitt, Soldotna; 5. Casper Von, Homer. 215 — 1. Ryan Hicks, Homer; 2. Conor Boyd, Soldotna. 285 — 1. Max Rogers, Soldotna; 2. Alex Hicks, Homer; 3. Logan Katzenberger, Soldotna; 4. Charles Van Meter, Homer; 5. Nick Barber, Homer. Girls 119 — 1. Cecilia Fitzpatrick, Homer; 2. Ann Graham, Homer. Girls 130 — 1. Sadie Blake, Homer; 2. Alicia Bianchi, Homer. Girls 145 — 1. Trinity Donovan, Soldotna; 2. Mischelle Wells, Homer; 3. Tawnisha Freeman, Nikiski.
Reach Megan Pacer at mpacer@homernews.com.
Homer’s Mose Hayes lifts opponent Simon Grenier of Nikiski into the air during the Best Western Bidarka Round Robin Rumble wrestling tournament Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 in the Alice Witte Gymnasium in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
Homer’s Mischelle Wells tries to flip Nikiski’s Tawnisha Freeman over during the Best Western Bidarka Round Robin Rumble wrestling tournament Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019 in the Alice Witte Gymnasium in Homer, Alaska. (Photo by Megan Pacer/Homer News)
