The Bethel Warriors are winners of the 2021 Division II State Wrestling tournament – it is their eighth state title. They narrowly beat the second place team – the Redington Huskies of Wasilla by a margin of 6 points last Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
Bethel’s Landon Smith (119 lb.) finished an astounding high school career with his fourth straight state championship. He defeated Wyatt Williams of Valdez to win the gold medal.
Smith joins two other Warrior four-time state champions: Thomas Dyment (2014-2018) and Hayden Lieb (2016-2020) making him the seventeenth wrestler for the boys to win four times at state. Bethel has the most four-time winners than any school in the state.
Smith was also awarded the Outstanding Wrestler award for Division II.
The Warriors and the Huskies were tied neck and neck at the end of the finals with four more matches to go. Bethel had two wrestlers waiting for their bouts – Smith and Dyment. They both won 1st to seal the victory for the Warriors wrestling team.
Paul Dyment won his first state championship in the 125 lb. bracket. He defeated Garrett Coen of Delta. His teammate Joseph Smith also took gold in the 130 lb. division, beating his opponent Tristan Goodell of Mt. Edgecumbe. Aaron Mute of Bethel (130) was 5th.
Alvino Vasquez of the Warriors placed third in the 103 lb. division. Liam Phelan took 5th, also wrestling in the 103 weight class. Sheldon Smith took 4th place overall in the 112 lb. bracket.
Napaskiak’s Seth Jacob finished in 5th place and Quinhagak’s state finalist Daylon Brown in 6th place, both in the 112 lb. division.
Hooper Bay Warrior August Seton (119) placed 6th overall. Mason Fitka of Bethel, wrestling in the 171 lb. bracket also finished in 6th place in his bracket. Ethan Alstrom of St. Mary’s placed 5th in the 285 lb. division.
Also wrestling for the Bethel Warriors were Charles Smith (145), Ellis Johnson (152), Jordan Leinberger (160), and Landon Burke (215).
Placing third were the Glennallen Panthers.
A ceremony was also held for Mr. Bob Graham of Bethel who was inducted into the Alaska Wrestling Hall of Fame before the finals. Congratulations to all!
2021 Boys Division II Wrestling State Championships Team Scores
1 Bethel, 158; 2 Reddington, 152; 3 Glennallen, 133.5; 4 Delta, 121; 5 Dillingham, 116.5; 6 Wrangell, 115; 7 Nome, 87.5; 8 Grace Christian, 84; 9 Kenai Central, 72.5; 10 Barrow, 70; 10 Nikiski, 70; 12 Seward, 53; 13 Homer, 44; 13 Hutchinson, 44; 15 Valdez, 42; 16 Mt. Edgecumbe, 41; 17 Eielson, 39; 18 Shaktoolik, 35; 18 Sitka, 35; 20 Petersburg, 33; 21 Craig, 25; 22 Anchorage Christian Schools, 24; 23 Houston, 23; 24 Haines, 21; 24 Savoonga, 21; 26 St Mary`s, 20; 27 Napaskiak, 16.5; 28 Gambell, 16; 29 Quinhagak, 14; 30 Cordova, 12.5; 31 Hooper Bay, 12; 32 Chevak, 10; 33 Scammon Bay, 8; 34 Emmonak, 4; 35 Kotzebue, 3; 35 Newhalen, 3; 35 Unalaska, 3; 38 New Stuyahok, 2; 39 Unalakleet Schools, 1; 40 Aniak, 0; 40 Brevig Mission, 0; 40 Bristol Bay, 0; 40 Buckland H.S. Girls, 0; 40 Koyuk Malimuit, 0; 40 Manokotak, 0; 40 Mountain Village, 0; 40 Noatak, 0; 40 Stebbins, 0; 40 Thorne Bay, 0.
