Juneau’s combined high school wrestling program capped a productive first season this weekend by qualifying 11 athletes to the state tournament. Eleven Juneau athletes finished in first or second place at the Region V tournament in Sitka this weekend, with champions and runners-up each earning a shot at the state title.
With Juneau’s two high school programs now merged into one, the Southeast 4A wrestling tournament contains just two teams: Ketchikan and TMHS.
Ketchikan topped TMHS in total team points 245.5 to 155.0 at the Mt. Edgecumbe-hosted tournament.
Juneau showed superiority over Ketchikan at 195 and 220 pounds as both of those weight classes came down to an all-Juneau final. In the 195 final, Josh Quinto upset teammate Devin Locke, who held a better record coming into the match.
In a rematch of the title bout at Juneau’s Brandon Pilot Invitational, the other all-Juneau title match pitted Cody Weldon against practice partner Carl Tupou at 225. A year older than Tupou, Weldon again bested his junior teammate by pin, this time in 2 minutes, 55 seconds.
Weldon and Tupou will both look to do damage at the state tournament Dec. 16 and 17. Weldon is a favorite to win the 220 title, while Tupou could be a darkhorse.
Winning each title by pin, Weldon has stood atop the podium at six tournaments this year and looks unstoppable heading into state. If anyone stands in Weldon’s way, it’s Tupou: he grapples with Weldon at practice, and if you subtract the two losses sustained to his teammate in title matches this year, Tupou’s record (10-4) compares favorably to Weldon’s (14-1).
Look to the Empire online this weekend for coverage of the state tournament.
106 LBS
2nd: Jahrease Mays (5-2)
Semifinal – Jahrease Mays (TMHS) 5-2 won by fall over CJ Jasper (KHS) 15-7 (Fall 1:33)
Finals – Matthew Rodriguez (KHS) 22-3 won by decision over Jahrease Mays (TMHS) 5-2 (Dec 7-0)
4th: Ricky Ramirez (3-6) placed 4th.
Semifinal – Matthew Rodriguez (KHS) 22-3 won by fall over Ricky Ramirez (TMHS) 3-6 (Fall 2:32)
Cons. Semi – Ricky Ramirez (TMHS) 3-6 received a bye (Bye)
3rd Place Match – CJ Jasper (KHS) 15-7 won by fall over Ricky Ramirez (TMHS) 3-6 (Fall 3:35)
120 LBS
3rd: Chase Foster (9-9)
Semifinal – Payton Stewart (KHS) 18-10 won by major decision over Chase Foster (TMHS) 9-9 (MD 11-2)
3rd Place Match – Chase Foster (TMHS) 9-9 won by decision over Mauricio Hernandez (TMHS) 5-11 (Dec 5-0)
4th: Mauricio Hernandez (5-11)
Cons. Semi – Mauricio Hernandez (TMHS) 5-11 won by decision over Max Varela (KHS) 5-10 (Dec 5-2)
126 LBS
3rd: Juan Fisher (7-12)
Semifinal – Mark Jasper (KHS) 17-15 won by decision over Juan Fisher (TMHS) 7-12 (Dec 9-4)
3rd Place Match – Juan Fisher (TMHS) 7-12 won by fall over Daniel Peters (TMHS) 1-10 (Fall 3:27)
4th: Daniel Peters (1-10)
Semifinal – Sean Tavares (KHS) 6-0 won by fall over Daniel Peters (TMHS) 1-10 (Fall 0:44)
132 LBS
3rd: Jacob Tapia (4-4)
Semifinal – Paul Amendinger (KHS) 14-9 won in sudden victory – 1 over Jacob Tapia (TMHS) 4-4 (SV-1 9-7)
3rd Place Match – Jacob Tapia (TMHS) 4-4 won by decision over Caleb Deer (TMHS) 2-6 (Dec 6-5)
4th: Caleb Deer (2-6)
Semifinal – Troy Harris (KHS) 16-8 won by tech fall over Caleb Deer (TMHS) 2-6 (TF-1.5 5:32 (18-3))
138 LBS
4th: Kyrell De La Rosa (4-11)
Semifinal – Tim Rodriguez (KHS) 7-1 won by fall over Kyrell De La Rosa (TMHS) 4-11 (Fall 3:52)
3rd Place Match – Joey Karlik (KHS) 21-12 won by fall over Kyrell De La Rosa (TMHS) 4-11 (Fall 1:41)
145 LBS
2nd: Sam Nolan (11-7)
Semifinal – Sam Nolan (TMHS) 11-7 won by major decision over Justin Albecker (KHS) 19-8 (MD 14-4)
Finals – Max Collins (KHS) 23-4 won by tech fall over Sam Nolan (TMHS) 11-7 (TF-1.5 4:08 (21-6))
152 LBS
2nd: Deven Mason (15-6)
Semifinal – Deven Mason (TMHS) 15-6 won by fall over Devin Dallin (KHS) 6-9 (Fall 1:18)
Finals – Grant Collins (KHS) 20-13 won by decision over Deven Mason (TMHS) 15-6 (Dec 6-1)
4th: Benjamin Ng (8-12)
Semifinal – Grant Collins (KHS) 20-13 won by fall over Benjamin Ng (TMHS) 8-12 (Fall 3:51)
3rd Place Match – Devin Dallin (KHS) 6-9 won by decision over Benjamin Ng (TMHS) 8-12 (Dec 8-2)
160 LBS
1st: Alex Ocana (13-10)
Semifinal – Alex Ocana (TMHS) 13-10 won by decision over Micah Eichner (KHS) 4-5 (Dec 11-8)
Finals – Alex Ocana (TMHS) 13-10 won by decision over Dawson Entwit (KHS) 13-15 (Dec 14-9)
170 LBS
2nd: Derek Mason (6-11)
Finals – Brandon Wieber (KHS) 15-11 won by decision over Derek Mason (TMHS) 6-11 (Dec 5-0)
182 LBS
2nd: Louie Rubenstein (14-8)
Finals – Cameron Harris (KHS) 19-11 won by fall over Louie Rubenstein (TMHS) 14-8 (Fall 4:34)
182 LBS
3rd: Stone Gaylor (3-7)
Semifinal – Cameron Harris (KHS) 19-11 won by fall over Stone Gaylor (TMHS) 3-7 (Fall 2:38)
3rd Place Match – Stone Gaylor (TMHS) 3-7 received a bye (Bye)
195 LBS
1st: Josh Quinto (2-7)
Semifinal – Josh Quinto (TMHS) 2-7 won by fall over Gerik Sherrill (KHS) 7-14 (Fall 3:36)
Finals – Josh Quinto (TMHS) 2-7 won by fall over Devin Locke (TMHS) 8-5 (Fall 5:32)
2nd: Devin Locke (8-5)
220 LBS
1st: Cody Weldon (14-1)
Finals – Cody Weldon (TMHS) 14-1 won by fall over Carl Tupou (TMHS) 10-4 (Fall 2:55)
2nd: Carl Tupou (10-4)
Semifinal – Carl Tupou (TMHS) 10-4 won by fall over Deejay Yalung (KHS) 5-7 (Fall 0:45)
285 LBS
1st: Robert Cox (8-2)
Finals – Robert Cox (TMHS) 8-2 won by fall over Joey Rhodes (KHS) 2-1 (Fall 2:28)
