BRHS Warriors runners up at State Wrestling Tournament

Landon Smith wins third state title

by Delta Discovery Staff

The Bethel Warriors Wrestling team with their trophy at the awards ceremony concluding the 2021 Division II State Wrestling Tournament.

Landon Smith of Bethel, a junior, won gold in the 112 lb. division at the 2021 Division II State Wrestling Tournament, making it his third straight state title and helping his team to the runner up spot in the tournament.

The long-awaited event was sponsored by the Alaska Schools Activities Association and hosted by Chugiak High School. Coming in first were the Glennallen Panthers. In third were the Nome Nanooks.

“Bethel Regional High School was given the opportunity to compete at the ASAA Spring State Wrestling Tournament held at the Chugiak High School Gym. With just about 3 weeks to prepare and having no matches entering the tournament vs. any other wrestlers from around the State, we did our best, and we turned some heads while doing so,” wrote BRHS Coach Darren Lieb. “Most of the teams represented have been wrestling since March 15. A lot of the coaches were surprised to see us there, but were also very very happy to have us be a part of it. Even though it was our first competition since December 2019, we went there with a winning attitude, and it showed.”

Landon Smith was 3-0 in his bracket, winning all his bouts via tech fall. He defeated Owen Hart of Kenai Central High School, 19-2. In the semifinals he defeated Hayden Leeper of Nome High School, 15-0 and advanced to the championship round. In the 1st place match he downed Myles Campbell of Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School 22-7.

Paul Dyment placed 2nd overall. He defeated Elston Dock of Mt. Edgecumbe High School, Son Erikson of Nome, and Zach Knott of Homer High School in the quarter and semifinals. Dyment lost to Wyatt Williams of Valdez in a close 5-6 in the championship round.

125 lb. wrestler Joseph Smith also made it to the championship round. He placed 2nd, defeating Ricky Paniptchuk of Shaktoolik High School by tech fall, 19-3. He defeated Louis Hadley of Buckland, and Jace Zaldivar of Eielson High School in the next two rounds. Caleb O’Hara of Anchorage Christian Schools won the championship match, 5-1.

Charles Smith placed 5th in the 140 lb. division. He won consolation round 2 and 3 defeating Nathanael Severs of Glennallen High School and Steven Barger of Kotzebue. John Harris of Grace Christian won by fall over Smith consolation semis. Smith came back with a victory in the 5th place match winning over Paris Hebel of Nome High School.

Jordan Leinberger placed 6th overall in the 152 lb. bracket. He won his first match defeating Wyatt Litster of Petersburg. He lost in the quarterfinals to Charlie Severance of Redington. Jordan won his next two matches in the consolation bracket, defeating Walter Washington of Buckland and Colin McFarland of Nome. Kenan Metzger of Grace Christian School won the next match in the consolation semis. Brennan Garcia of Glennallen also won the next bout for 5th place.

160 lb. wrestler Jamin Crow placed 4th. He downed Jayden Stone of Glennallen in the first round and Stephan Anderson of Nome in the quarterfinals. Ryan Troyer of Kotzebue won the next match in the semis. In the consolation bracket Crow won by fall over Owen Ford of Grace Christian School. In the bout for 3rd place Steven Warren of Delta won 13-3.

Also wrestling for BRHS were Aaron Mute (125 lb.), Patricio Vasquez (171 lb.), and Lawrence Bayer (215 lb.).

“The main highlight of this weekend was just being able to compete in this tournament,”said Coach Lieb. “Seeing our kids compete for their community and school again was a blessing. I wish you could have seen the smiles on their faces. And one of the other highlights was that, Junior – Landon Smith, is currently a 3 X State Wrestling Champion for the Warriors!”

ASAA/FNBA DII Boys State Championships Results

1 Glennallen High School, 150.5; 2 Bethel High School, 113.0; 3 Nome High School, 108.5; 4 Grace Christian School, 104.0; 5 Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School, 103.0; 6 Homer High School Mariners, 99.0; 7 Nikiski High School, 90.0; 8 Kenai Central High School, 85.0; 9 Wrangell Wolves, 84.0; 10 Eielson High School, 82.0; 11 Mt. Edgecumbe High School, 71.5; 12 Kotzebue High School, 59.0; 13 Anchorage Christian Schools, 54.0; 14 Barrow High School,  46.0; 15 Hutchison High School, 39.0; 16 Valdez High School, 35.0; 17 Shaktoolik High School, 29.0; 18 Delta, 24.0; 19 Haines High School, 22.0; 20 Savoonga high school, 20.0; 21 Houston, 14.0; 21 Sitka High School, 14.0; 23 Seward High School, 9.0; 24 Chevak, 8.0; 24 Koyuk Malimuit, 8.0; 26 Buckalnd H.S. Girls, 7.0; 26 Gambell, 7.0; 28 Petersburg, 3.0; 28 Stebbins, 3.0; 30 Shungnak High School, 1.0; 31 Brevig Mission High School, 0.0; 31 Metlakatla High School, 0.0; 31 Noatak High School, 0.0; 31 Thorne Bay High School, 0.0.

The 2021 Outstanding Wrestler Awards were bestowed upon Kael Gerlach of Glennallen – the boys 189 lb. division champion and Autumn Poland of Lathrop – the girls 119 lb. state champion. The Academic Award went to the Grace Christian Grizzlies for the boys who had a 3.75 gpa and the Lathrop Malemute girls for their gpa of 3.66. Congratulations!