Wrestling

Wrestlers for South Anchorage High School, which won the ASAA Division I state wrestling tournament on Saturday, were easy to identify by their bleach blond hair. (Steven Glasheen / Alaska Sports Report)

South Anchorage High School wins D1 wrestling title

One TMHS competitor finishes fourth; two finish sixth in weight divisions during two-day tournament.

 

Wrangell junior Della Churchill pins Mt. Edgecumbe junior Nevaeh George in the girls 114-pound championship match of the 2023 ASAA Region V wrestling tournament Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Churchill was selected the Girls Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament. (Klas Stolpe/ For the Juneau Empire)

Mt. Edgecumbe wins ASAA Region V Division II and Girls Wrestling Championships

Wrangell’s Della Churchill, Haines Leo Wald selected outstanding wrestlers

 

Thunder Mountain senior Liam Hart uses a cradle to pin Ketchikan High School junior Easton Yoder in the 189-pound Division I championship match of the 2023 ASAA Region V wrestling tournament, Saturday, at Thunder Mountain High School. (Klas Stolpe/ For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain wins historic Region V wrestling championship, ending Ketchikan streak

Eight Juneau grapplers earn Southeast weight division titles

 

Thunder Mountain High School junior Sage Schultz pins Ketchikan senior Alexander Gilley in their 135-pound semifinal match of the 2023 Region V Wrestling Championships on Friday at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)

Juneau grapplers have lead in first day of Region V Southeast Tournament Championships

TMHS, Mt. Edgecumbe top boys’ divisions; Ketchikan, MEHS top girls’

Thunder Mountain High School junior Sage Schultz pins Ketchikan senior Alexander Gilley in their 135-pound semifinal match of the 2023 Region V Wrestling Championships on Friday at TMHS. (Klas Stolpe / For the Juneau Empire)
The Thunder Mountain High School wrestling team, made up of TMHS and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé athletes, will host the Region V Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday in the TMHS Thunderdome gym. (Photo courtesy of TMHS)

Falcons grapplers have mat mission at Southeast Tournament Championships

Thunder Mountain High School upperclassmen have waited lifetime for title chance.

The Thunder Mountain High School wrestling team, made up of TMHS and Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé athletes, will host the Region V Wrestling Championships on Friday and Saturday in the TMHS Thunderdome gym. (Photo courtesy of TMHS)
Jed Davis of Thunder Mountain High School, right, and Evan Andrew of Mt. Edgecumbe High School face off in the 125-pound division during the Southeast Showdown at TMHS on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)

TMHS finishes top among boys on home mats in Southeast Showdown wrestling tournament

Ketchikan takes overall title, Falcons second in two-day, co-ed competition among eight schools.

Jed Davis of Thunder Mountain High School, right, and Evan Andrew of Mt. Edgecumbe High School face off in the 125-pound division during the Southeast Showdown at TMHS on Saturday. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club finds gold in Wasilla

USA Wrestling Alaska State Championship held from May 3-7.

Darren Foster and Nixie Schooler with some of their gold medals and their prestigious “Triple Crown” belt buckles at the USA Wrestling Alaska State Championships at the Menard Center in Wasilla from May 3-7. (Courtesy Photo / Jason Hass)
Emanual Canales Ortiz of the Juneau Youth Wrestling Club prepares for second period against Dawson Folcik of Palmer on March 3-4 in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Melinda Messmer)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club returns from Fairbanks tournament

27 Juneau wrestlers go to 47th annual Tanana Middle School Invitational.

Emanual Canales Ortiz of the Juneau Youth Wrestling Club prepares for second period against Dawson Folcik of Palmer on March 3-4 in Fairbanks. (Courtesy Photo / Melinda Messmer)
Thunder Mountain High School wrestler Brandon Day pins down his competition Saturday afternoon during the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at THMS. The Falcons had seven of its wrestlers make it into the finals and five took first in their weight divisions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)

Falcons hit the mats

Juneau high school wrestlers take top spots at weekend tournaments

Thunder Mountain High School wrestler Brandon Day pins down his competition Saturday afternoon during the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at THMS. The Falcons had seven of its wrestlers make it into the finals and five took first in their weight divisions. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Carson Cummins hoists his opponent from Ketchikan High School before taking him to the mat during a tournament at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, April 3. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire).

5 wrestlers start off season with first-place finishes

It’s back to the mats

Carson Cummins hoists his opponent from Ketchikan High School before taking him to the mat during a tournament at Thunder Mountain High School on Friday, April 3. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire).
The site of Juneau Youth Wrestling Club’s future practice facility has been cleared, and Josh Houston, club board president said it’s hoped the building will be in place by October. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau Youth Wrestling Club’s new home nears completion

Tornados are ready to touch down.

The site of Juneau Youth Wrestling Club’s future practice facility has been cleared, and Josh Houston, club board president said it’s hoped the building will be in place by October. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain High School sophomore Jacob Ferster pins East Anchorage’s Ikaska Vaivai in the second round of the 215-pound consolation bracket of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Division I State Wrestling Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)

Thunder Mountain grapplers 13th at state tournament

Derek Mason goes out swinging.

Thunder Mountain High School sophomore Jacob Ferster pins East Anchorage’s Ikaska Vaivai in the second round of the 215-pound consolation bracket of the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Division I State Wrestling Championships at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. (Michael Dinneen | For the Juneau Empire)
Sophomore Jake Ferster, top, workouts against senior Derek Mason during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)

Player of the Week: Derek Mason

Derek Mason is the Juneau Empire player of the week. Mason, a senior at Thunder Mountain High School, won the Region V Wrestling Championships 215-pound… Continue reading

Sophomore Jake Ferster, top, workouts against senior Derek Mason during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire File)
Coach Jesse Cruz watches his team workout during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

‘Cruz’ control: Last-minute coach find turning out well for Thunder Mountain wrestling team

Kids and administrators think highly of him.

Coach Jesse Cruz watches his team workout during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Thunder Mountain’s Kadin Messmer wrestles Ketchikan’s Degan Linne during their 103-pound finals match in the Region V Division I Wrestling Championships at TMHS on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Linne pinned Messmer at 5:44 to win the region title. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

TMHS wrestlers resilient at Region V tourney

Next stop: state.

Thunder Mountain’s Kadin Messmer wrestles Ketchikan’s Degan Linne during their 103-pound finals match in the Region V Division I Wrestling Championships at TMHS on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018. Linne pinned Messmer at 5:44 to win the region title. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Sophomore Jake Ferster, top, workouts against senior Derek Mason during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Falcons hosts Region V tourney

Do well and you’ll probably qualify for state.

Sophomore Jake Ferster, top, workouts against senior Derek Mason during Thunder Mountain High School’s wrestling team practice on Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas senior Steven Ireland-Haight attempts to take down Wrangell’s Jake Eastaugh in the 171-pound consolation semifinals at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)

Thunder wrestlers fifth in Sitka

One Falcon did win in triple OT though.

Juneau-Douglas senior Steven Ireland-Haight attempts to take down Wrangell’s Jake Eastaugh in the 171-pound consolation semifinals at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Thunder Mountain High School. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire File)
Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire) Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons pick up two Lancer Smith medals

The Thunder Mountain High School wrestling team brought nine wrestlers to the Lancer Smith Memorial on Friday and Saturday at the Menard Sports Complex in… Continue reading

Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire) Thunder Mountain sophomore Jake Ferster tries to break the hold of Ketchikan’s Sully Shulz at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. After losing to to teammate Camden Erickson in the 189-pound semifinals, Ferster won a 3-2 decision over Shulz and wrestled Sitka’s John Welsh in the consolation finals. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas junior Jahrease Mays looks over at the official as he pins Ketchikan’s Patrick Rauwolf in the 125-pound bracket final of the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays won soon after. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Player of the Week: Jahrease Mays

Jahrease Mays is the Juneau Empire’s player of the week. Mays, a junior at Juneau-Douglas High School, twice pinned a former state finalist to earn… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas junior Jahrease Mays looks over at the official as he pins Ketchikan’s Patrick Rauwolf in the 125-pound bracket final of the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays won soon after. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas junior Jahrease Mays looks over at the official as he pins Ketchikan’s Patrick Rauwolf in the 125-pound bracket final of the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays won by pin at 1:10. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)

Falcons wrestling hit the Pilot mats

Juneau-Douglas 125-pounder Jahrease Mays made quick work of his finals match at the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday night at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays,… Continue reading

Juneau-Douglas junior Jahrease Mays looks over at the official as he pins Ketchikan’s Patrick Rauwolf in the 125-pound bracket final of the Brandon Pilot Invitational on Saturday at Thunder Mountain High School. Mays won by pin at 1:10. (Nolin Ainsworth | Juneau Empire)