The ongoing rivalry between Juneau-Douglas High School’s Cody Weldon and Ketchikan’s Nate Fousel has finally come to an end.
After defeating Fousel in October for the first time since the two began competing against one another in middle school, they were at it again in the 195-pound finals of the ASAA/First National Bank state wrestling championships at Bartlett High School in Anchorage on Saturday.
Fousel held a narrow 4-3 lead in the third period when Weldon re-aggravated an elbow injury that sidelined him for part of this season, ending with a 6-3 decision for Fousel.
But even though the rivalry is over, Weldon, a junior, will be back competing next year. To make it to the finals he had to go through the top-ranked 195 pounder, which ended quickly 1:18 into the first period with a Weldon pin.
“I was a little disappointed with my final match,” Weldon said. “I wish I would have been 100 percent, but I beat the No. 1 seed — he’d been unbeaten for two years.”
Weldon said trainers at the tournament believe he either strained or tore ligaments in his left elbow, and after the new year he plans to see a specialist to help him get ready to compete at the same weight next season.
“He had an injury since about the first of November, … and we thought it might be a factor,” JDHS wrestling coach John Joeright said. “It definitely hampered his ability a little bit. The last period he really struggled with pain. He has another year, which is great. It could have gone either way with the final four finishers, and most of those four are all gone next year.”
JDHS finished 19th in points with 24 and took three wrestlers total to the state tournament. Sophomores Tucker Joeright (138 pounds) and Seth Machakos (170 pounds) also competed.
“Both are sophomores, so to qualify was a big thing for them,” Joeright said. “They’re part of our core future for the Crimson Bears. … You don’t see many kids with more heart than these guys. They really want it.”
Thunder Mountain
Thunder Mountain’s Hunter Boyer, a senior, finished third at 152 pounds this weekend. The Falcons took six players to state and finished with 30.5 team points for 18th place.
“I didn’t think it was going to be an easy match, and for the finals I just went in there confident,” Boyer said. “I was trying not to over think it, so I just went in there and did what I had to do. Our practices definitely prepared us for the intensity we were going to see. I knew they’d be tough matches and I didn’t expect anything less.
“It’s never a sure thing, but I felt like I was able to hang with the top guys,” he continued. “I went in there knowing I’d be able to do some work.”
Freshman Conner Norman finished sixth overall at 98 pounds.
“It felt great,” Falcons wrestling coach Jason Boyer said of the tournament. “We had a young team, … and we had some kids that got to see what the big show looks like and they have an appreciation for the level of wrestling they have to get to. To go up north and compete at that level, against big school programs that get twice the matches, shows the level of competitiveness.”
Other Thunder Mountain wrestlers competing over the weekend included: Caleb Deer (113 pounds), Sam Nolan (145 pounds), Alex Ocana (160 pounds) and Tyler Cole (170 pounds).
“It’s still a new program, … and we look to keep building the program and take more kids north,” coach Boyer said.
Class 4A Team Scores
1) South 254; 2) Colony 224.5; 3) Lathrop 223.5; 4) Wasilla 141.5; 5) North Pole 102; 6) tie, Ketchikan and Palmer 97.5; 8) Soldotna 93; 9) Chugiak 86; 10) East 75.5; 11) Service 68; 12) West Valley 64; 13) Eagle River 53; 14) Dimond 46; 15) Kodiak 45; 16) Kenai Central 42; 17) Bartlett 34.5; 18) Thunder Mountain 30.5; 19) Juneau 24; 20) West 23.
