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Huskies pin down second at Bethel Invitational

November 9th, 2012 | By Tommy Wells Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Heading into the 2012 high school wrestling season, almost everyone in the northwestern part of the state knew the Kotzebue High School wrestling team would good. Following their performance at the Bethel Invitational Wrestling Tournament this weekend, everyone else now knows.

The Huskies wrestled their way to wins in four of the 15 weight classifications and cruised to second in the overall team standings with 189 points. Bethel nabbed the top spot, while Western Conference rivals Nome and Barrow finished third and fourth, respectively.

Brett Reich and Gary Eakin started the Huskies' gold-medal haul. The two posted perfect 4-0 marks in the two-day event and easily won the divisions. Rech defeated Nome's Leif Erickson to win the 113-pound bracket, while Eaken posted an 8-4 win over Bethel's Avary Coplin in the 132-pound championship match.

Koy Johnson and Stephen Hyatt also collected first-place finishes. Johnson wrestled his way to a 3-0 mark in the 145-pound bracket, including a decision over Valdez's Christian DeLay in the championship.

Hyatt upended Togiak's Briece Bohannon in the 195-pound classification.

In addition to their four wins, the Huskies also had three others advance to the finals in their weight brackets, including Josh Roetman, Drew Nanouk and Isaac Peacock. All three turned in solid outings.

Roetman went 3-1 in the tournament, suffering his lone setback to Bethel's Trevour Chavez in the finals of the 160-pound bracket. Nanouk was second to Nome's Chris Harvey in the 170-pound division, while Peacock notched a 2-1 mark and finished behind Unalakleet's Shyler Johnson in the 182-pound classification.

Gus Nelson also netted a medal for the Huskies, finishing third in the 152-pound division. Overall, the KHS standout went 3-1 in the tournament.

Jeremiah Gallahorn and Ben Phillips both turned in solid efforts, as well. Gallahord was fourth in the 138-pound division, while Phillips was fifth in the 145 ranks.

The Huskies will return to action this weekend by participating in the Palmer Invitational.

Bethel Invitational Wrestling Tournament

The following are the final team standings for the Bethel Invitational, which was held on Nov. 2-3.

1. Bethel 264, 2. Kotzebue 189, 3. Nome 115, 4. Barrow 111, 5. Quinhagak 60, 6. Unalakleet 52, 7 New Stuyahok 46.5, 8. Scammon Bay 35, 9. Pilot Station 29.5, 10. Akiachak 29, 11. Valdez 22, 12. Napaskiak 20, 13. Chevak 17, 14. Newhalen 15, 15. Togiak10, 16. Hooper Bay 7; 17. Atmautluak 6; 18. Nunapitchuk 3, 19. Emmonak 0; 20. Mountain Village 0.

