by Tommy Wells
The Bethel Warriors varsity wrestling team battled their way to a third-place finish at the Battle In The Interior dual meet in Fairbanks. Hayden Lieb posted a perfect record over the weekend and helped lead the Bethel Regional High School Warriors to a top three finish. The tournament was held Friday and Saturday at Lathrop High School.
Bethel won four of the six matches they competed in. South Anchorage won the team title, going 6-0 in the event. Lathrop finished second.
The Warriors opened the tournament with a victory over West Valley. En route to wins over the Wolfpack, the Warriors picked up seven wins in seven weight classes. Posting wins were Landon Smith, Bradley Oulton, Nelson Evans, Daniel Chakuchin, Jamin Crow, Hayden Lieb and Elijah Lindley.
Bethel rolled to an easy 72-9 victory over the Lathrop No. 2 squad in their second match. The Warriors won 12 of the 13 matches held. Notching wins were Joseph Smith, Oulton, Evans, Chakuchin, Josh Pavil, Crow, Lieb, Simon Snow, Shaun Peter, Kyle Valadez, Ryan Smith and Landon Smith.
Lathrop’s No. 1 team dealt Bethel a 46-28 setback in their ensuing match. Evans, Pavil, Lieb, Lindley, Joseph Smith and Landon Smith all collected wins in the match.
Bethel suffered its second straight loss in Round 4 of the meet, falling to South Anchorage by a 66-6 clip.
Lieb notched the Warriors’ lone win against South.
The Warriors closed out the weekend with wins over North Pole, 54-31, and Palmer, 45-29.
Battle In The Interior
Held Friday and Saturday in Fairbanks
Final team standings
South Anchorage
Lathrop 1
Bethel
Palmer
West Valley
North Pole
Lathrop 2
