Mt. Edgecumbe Braves boys team wins first state wrestling title

by Greg Lincoln

The Mt. Edgecumbe Braves are the new Division II State Wrestling Champions. They won the state title this past weekend at the conclusion of the 2-day tournament in Anchorage. Coming in second were the Homer Mariners. In third place was the Dillingham Wolverines. The Bethel Warriors took fourth. New Stuyahok cracked the top 10 in the final standings.

Scammon Bay Eagles took 23^rd, the Chevak Comets placed 28^th, St. Mary’s Eagles finished in 31^st, and St. Michael, Quinhagak, Akiachak, Aniak, and Napaskiak finished in 33^rd, 40^th, 42^nd, 42^nd, and 42^nd respectively.

The tournament took place at the Alaska Airlines center in Anchorage, December 20-21, 2024 sponsored by the Alaska Schools Activities Association (ASAA).

Unranked Elden Andrew of New Stuyahok representing Edgecumbe was voted as the Most Outstanding Wrestler for the boys division, he competed in the 130 lb. weight class. Andrew entered the tournament unseeded and ended up winning the championship title, stunning ASAA officials.

The boys sportsmanship award was awarded to the Wrangell Wolves. The Kotzebue Huskies won the Academic Award, their team GPA was 3.92.

Division II Coach of the Year was Courtney Howard of Mt. Edgecumbe. Coach Aaron Routon, also of Edgecumbe was chosen as the Assistant Coach of the Year. Mt. Edgecumbe Coach Deedee Creed was elected onto the Alaska Wrestling Association Board.

Cole Iverson of Bethel (103), Evan Andrew of MEHS (119), and Elden Andrew also of MEHS (130) made it to the championship round in their brackets.

On the girls’ side, Nevaeh George of Newtok representing MEHS (114) competed in the championship round. Soldotna won the girls state championship, coming in second was Colony High School of Wasilla, and in third was Fairbanks’ Student Wrestling Development Program. The Lady Braves of MEHS placed 7^th, Napaskiak Lady Hawks took 12^th, and the Bethel Lady Warriors took 14^th overall.

The Most Outstanding Wrestler award for the girls went to Krista Howland (126 lb) of the Hoonah Lady Braves. The Wasilla Lady Warriors won the Sportsmanship team award. The Newhalen Malemutes won the Academic Award with their 3.75 GPA.

ASAA State Wrestling Tournament Results

Alaska Airlines Center

Dec. 20-21, 2024

100G

1 Grace Loutzenhiser, COL

2 Hayden Kumfer, SDWP

3 Claire Dyment , BRHS

4 Jessica LeClair, SOLD

5 Naomi Keller, SOLD

6 Renee Brown, Nome

107G

1 Jade Sherry, SDWP

2 Valarie McAnelly, SOL

3 Nixie Schooler, JUN-DOUG

4 Megan Cornett, SDWP

5 Brooklyn Duelfer, S Anch

6 TALIA JENKINS, CHUG

114G

1 Mia Hannevold, SOL

2 Nevaeh George, MEHS

3 Jaelynn Colby, N Pole

4 Hayden Vanderpool, COL

5 Christabelle Minke, HOM

6 Kaylani Vreeland, DIM

120G

1 Lillie Vansiegman, PAL

2 Pagan Lester, NHL

3 Braelyn Troxell, COL

4 Della Churchill, WRA

5 Nyah O`Neil, DIM

6 Solveig Finstad, LATH

126G

1 Krista Howland, HOO

2 Rowan Peck, SOL

3 Sarah Callender, PAL

4 Alora Wassily, DLG

5 Jane Douglas, DELT

6 Ida Lester, NHL

132G

1 Saoirse Cook, HOM

2 Summer Boling, KCHN

3 OLIVIA PROBASCO, WAS

4 Braylynn Young, NIK

5 TARYN WRIGHT, WAS

6 Eliza Anders, WVAL

138G

1 Brynlee Lutz, WAS

2 Desiree Moore, N Pole

3 ANNIKA JOHNSON, CHUG

4 Adalyn Samuelson, PKA

5 Lexi Cook, MTLK

6 Heavan Copeland, E ANC

145G

1 Amelia Fawcett, COL

2 Saige Morris, S Anch

3 Daisy Hannevold, SOL

4 Lacey Sherman, Nome

5 Kirstyn Passin, VAL

6 RYLIE BOYSCOUT, CHUG

152G

1 Kiann Williams, SDWP

2 Savannah Stout, S Anch

3 Hilary Larson, PKA

4 Bella Byrd, SOL

5 Kaari Storrs, EAGRIV

6 Alice Balash, LATH

165G

1 Jessailah Thammavongsa, S Anch

2 Infinity-Ann Asiata-Higa, SOL

3 Alexia Zacharof, MEHS

4 McKINLEY HAFEN, WAS

5 Jenna Yoeman, KEN

6 Megan Connelley, LATH

185G

1 Keasiya Luedde, SERV

2 Maya Curp, S Anch

3 Ayana Hamilton, E ANC

4 Thalia Martinez, LATH

5 Nikayla Miller, RED

6 Milla Harris, N Pole

235G

1 Noelle Buck, COL

2 Honey Rexford, SDWP

3 Allison Coffey, S Anch

4 Kimberly Tischner , HOU

5 Ari O`Domin , BBAY

6 Sophie Didrickson, MEHS

Boys Results

103

1 Tommy Jarnig , SEW

2 Cole Iverson, BRHS

3 August Reigh, DLG

4 Aidan Crow, BRHS

5 Trent Dundas, CORD

6 Vincent Gust, NSTU

112

1 Paxton Lawhorne, DELT

2 Bryson Andrew, NSTU

3 Mitchell Sizemore, RED

4 Leo Bukala, RED

5 Luca Fitzpatrick, HOM

6 Laiton Pingayak, VAK

119

1 Ridge Conant, SEW

2 Evan Andrew, MEHS

3 Gusty Tunguing IV, KOL

4 Brenden Moncibaiz, SKGY

5 Christian Chandler, SCM

6 Alvino Vasquez , BRHS

125

1 Hayden Jimenez , HAIN

2 Dylan McCambly, DLG

3 Brandon Ayapan, BRHS

4 Hunter Gumlickpuk, NSTU

5 Emery Kirchner, SEW

6 Gunnar Davis, CORD

130

1 Elden Andrew, MEHS

2 Cache Henning, UNA

3 Kaden Vanbuskirk, VAL

4 Eli Banks, HOU

5 Tristan Tilden, DLG

6 Sheldon Smith, BRHS

135

1 Hunter Forshee-Kurtz, SEW

2 Jaxson Young, NIK

3 Logan Beck, VAL

4 Eben Caulkins, RED

5 Lanakila Greene, DLG

6 Killan Hammock, SIT

140

1 Jackson Carney, WRA

2 Jake Stockhausen, GLN

3 Gunnar Stanley, KEN

4 Blake Bailey, COR

5 Wyatt Munster, DLG

6 Ben Milton, Nome

145

1 Paul Minke, HOM

2 Justus Grimes, HOM

3 Conner Cook, KEN

4 Jackson Iverson, BRHS

5 Anthony Smith, SEW

6 Colton Combs, HAIN

152

1 Daniel Steffensen, KEN

2 Landyn Woods, HOM

3 Jacob Wassily-Merlino, DLG

4 Torian Dull, MEHS

5 Micah Ivanoff, UNKs

6 Everett Meissner, WRA

160

1 Brayden Woods, HOM

2 Dalen Beck, VAL

3 Carson Crotts, GRC

4 Keagan Stanley, KEN

5 Thomas Swalling, RED

6 Jorge Sandoval, MEHS

171

1 Dalton Henry, HAIN

2 Graelin Chaney, DLG

3 Romen Weber, VAL

4 Samson Smith, MEHS

5 William Douglas, DELT

6 Kaden Duke, PBRG

189

1 Wyatt Ahmasuk, Nome

2 Kaden Herrmann, MEHS

3 Carlos Sandoval, MEHS

4 Warren Blood, VAL

5 Aj Tudela, VAL

6 Isaiah Mann, HOM

215

1 Richard Didrickson, MEHS

2 James Stickler, HAIN

3 Rex Wittmer, NIK

4 Cody Barnes, WRA

5 Sioeli Tuifua, BRW

6 Landon Burke, BRHS

285

1 Donovan Standifer, MEHS

2 Norman Lilomaiava, BRW

3 Angus Olsen, PBRG

4 Dylan Petersen, SIT

5 Lochlyn Roney, KEN

6 Shea Yatchmeneff, HOM