Bethel Freestyle Wrestlers compete at State Championships

The Alaska USA Wrestling (AUSAW) organization hosted the 2024 Folkstyle, Greco-Roman & Freestyle State Championships in Palmer, Alaska at the Menard Center, May 2-4. The Bethel Freestyle Wrestling team competed in the events.

Winning three gold medals in all three events were Maya Iverson and Nova Kerr. Both girls won all the tournaments that they entered – Folkstyle, Greco, and Freestyle. Congratulations!

Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club Results

Folkstyle Championships

Tournament Results May 2, 2024

10 & Under – 56

4th Ronin Keller

10 & Under – 63

6th Jack Hamilton

10 & Under – 84

5th Cade Morgan

10 & Under – 105

3rd Frank Smith

10 & Under Girls – 113

1st Nova Kerr

12 & Under – 58

2nd Rex Morgan

12 & Under – 70

3rd Liam Keller

12 & Under – 74

4th Brysen Simeon

12 & Under – 82

1st Teil McIntyre

12 & Under – 92

3rd Liam Murat

4th Dayton Samuelson

6th Bennett Sorg

12 & Under Girls – 81

1st Maya Iverson

4th Nora Lefferts

6th Nekoda Simeon

12 & Under Girls – 112

6th Keilani Smith

12 & Under Girls – 126

2nd Aubrianna Wilde

14 & Under – 97

5th Cole Iverson

14 & Under – 119

5th Maximos Lonewolf

14 & Under Girls – 87

2nd Rose Rivers

14 & Under Girls – 115

5th Mary Evon

14 & Under Girls – 121

1st Isabelle Kerr

14 & Under Girls – 163

2nd Isabella Fitka

16 & Under – 175

6th Hayden Martin

16 & Under Girls – 136

3rd Riley Boney

Junior – 132

4th Alvino Vasquez

Junior – 157

6th Nicholas Twito

Junior – 215

3rd Landon Burke

The Bethel Freestyle Wrestling team placed 10th overall with 29 squads listed in the Folkstyle event.

Greco Championships

Tournament Results May 3, 2024

10 & Under 56

3rd Ronin Keller

10 & Under 63

5th Stratton Sorg

10 & Under Girls 73

3rd Lacey Thompson

10 & Under Girls 113

1st Nova Kerr

12 & Under 63

4th Rex Morgan

12 & Under 74

5th Nora Lefferts

12 & Under 78

4th Ari Kaiser

12 & Under 82

3rd Teil McIntyre

12 & Under 82

6th Maya Iverson

12 & Under 86

6th Toby Vanasse

12 & Under 92

6th Bennett Sorg

12 & Under 135

3rd Tate Hoffman

12 & Under Girls 81

1st Maya Iverson

12 & Under Girls 126

2nd Aubrianna Wilde

14 & Under 97

3rd Cole Iverson

14 & Under 119

3rd Maximos Lonewolf

14 & Under Girls 87

2nd Rose Rivers

14 & Under Girls 163

2nd Isabella Fitka

16 & Under 132

5th Brandon Ayapan

16 & Under 175

4th Hayden Martin

16 & Under Girls 136

2nd Riley Boney

Junior 132

4th Alvino Vasquez

Junior 157

4th Nicholas Twito

Junior 215

3rd Landon Burke

The Bethel Freestyle Wrestling team placed 9th overall with 26 squads listed in the Greco event.

Womens Freestyle Championships

Tournament Results May 2-3, 2024

10 & Under Girls 49

1st Malia Laraux

10 & Under Girls 73

4th Lacey Thompson

10 & Under Girls 113

1st Nova Kerr

12 & Under Girls 75

2nd Nora Lefferts

12 & Under Girls 81

1st Maya Iverson

12 & Under Girls 81

5th Nekoda Simeon

12 & Under Girls 126

3rd Aubrianna Wilde

14 & Under Girls 87

2nd Rose Rivers

14 & Under Girls 115

4th Mary Evon

14 & Under Girls 163

3rd Isabella Fitka

16 & Under Girls 136

3rd Riley Boney

6 & Under Girls 40

4th Laurel Burks

6 & Under Girls 40

3rd Olivia Keller

8 & Under Girls 43

2nd Aylee Kaiser

8 & Under Girls 62

6th Iris McElwee

8 & Under Girls 74

2nd Olivia Demientieff

8 & Under Girls 85

2nd Elsie Codman

The Bethel Freestyle Wrestling team placed 10th overall with 28 squads listed in the Womens Freestyle event.

Freestyle Championships

Tournament Results May 3-4, 2024

10 & Under 56

4th Ronin Keller

12 & Under 63

4th Rex Morgan

12 & Under 70

4th Liam Keller

12 & Under 78

3rd Ari Kaiser

12 & Under 86

6th Toby Vanasse

12 & Under 92

4th Bennett Sorg

12 & Under 92

5th Dayton Samuelson

12 & Under 108

4th Chase Nicolai

12 & Under 135

6th Tate Hoffman

14 & Under 97

2nd Cole Iverson

14 & Under 119

4th Maximos Lonewolf

16 & Under 132

6th Brandon Ayapan

Junior 132

6th Alvino Vasquez

Junior 157

5th Nicholas Twito

Junior 215

5th Landon Burke

6 & Under 45

5th Kai McIntyre

8 & Under 85

6th Paxton Erik

“For the Freestyle Wrestling Team Scoring, AUSAW tallies two separate Divisions – Kids Division (6U – 14U) and an Older Division (16U – Open). In the Kids Division, our Club, Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club, won 1st Place. Then they add the totals of both divisions and see who the Grand Champion is for both divisions. Our Club, Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club, was the Grand Freestyle Wrestling Champions for the first time ever. We were actually tied with the Alaska Battle Cats and it came down to who had the most pins, and we had more than them,” said Bethel Freestyle Wrestling Club President/Leader Darren Lieb.

“Our Club would like to thank all of the parents for their support in our Club. Watching them grow from the first practice and going into the State Tournament with no matches and bringing home lots of hardware is amazing. Our Volunteer Coaching Staff for putting in their time and efforts: Gina and Isabel Lieb, Marty Smith, Zachariah Pleasant, Pat O’Brien, Gilbert McIntyre and Alex Keller. Our community members that pledged several of our wrestlers in our Push-Up-A-Thon fundraiser and to our three Club Sponsors this year: Donlin Gold (Prime Sponsor), Bethel Native Corporation (Silver Sponsor) and Corina’s Case Lot (Silver Sponsor). We would also like to thank A.C. Company and Swanson’s for donating food items for us to sell at our Friday Night matches,” said Lieb. “Up next for some of these wrestlers will be a June Camp in Palmer and then off to compete in Pocatello, ID at the end of June. Summer Wrestlers make Winter Champions.”