by Tommy Wells
Hayden Lieb is among the state of Alaska’s top wrestlers. He wrestled for Team Alaska Freestyle dual team at the Junior Nationals Dual Tournament in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The Bethel Regional High School standout went 7-3 in his weight classification and helped carry Team Alaska to an impressive outing, Team Alaska finished seventh in the overall team standings at the event.
Lieb kicked off his outing at the tournament with a tough loss to New Jersey standout Dante Stefanelli in the 160-pound division. New Jersey used Stefanelli’s win to power itself to a 52-14 victory in the first round of the dual meet.
Lieb and Team Alaska answered back nicely from there. Alaska defeated North Carolina in the second round, winning 54-20. Lieb highlighted Team Alaska’s win with a win over James Thorn.
Lieb continued to roll from there. In the third round, he powered Team Alaska to a win over Kansas Red with a decisive 10-0 win over Dylan Williams.
He claimed a win over Michigan’s Ryan Granger in the fifth round. Michigan, however, overcame his win to claim a 41-28 team victory.
Lieb suffered a 13-0 loss to Minnesota’s Gavin Overhaus in the next round.
Once again, he bounced back to form, winning three of his final four matches. Despite Team Alaska’s loss to Texas, he posted an impressive 17-5 win over Massoma Endene. Following a loss to Pennsylvania’s Caden Wright, the BRHS standout finished off the event with a win over Tennessee’s Antonio Washington. He also collected a forfeit win over a Kentucky wrestler in his final bout.
Lieb, along with Bethel teammate Landon Smith, will return to action at the Cadet and Junior Freestyle and Greco Roman Individual Championships in Fargo, North Dakota. The top eight finishers in each weight classifications at the meet will earn All-American honors.
