Two Haines grapplers reached the finals of a Wrangell tournament last weekend, but each finished as a runner-up.
Sophomore Cameron Merklin-Bauer (126 pounds) and senior Kai Hays (160 pounds) earned second-place finishes for the Glacier Bears. Merklin-Bauer tallied a 1-1 record and Hays went 2-1 at the season-opening meet.
Other results for Haines were junior Charlie Bower, 2-2 at 120 pounds; junior Ketch Jacobson, 2-2 at 132 pounds; senior Trevor Cox, 3-2 at 138 pounds; junior Mori Hays, 0-3 at 145 pounds; senior Zane Durr, 3-2 at 152 pounds; senior Tyler Murphy, 1-2 at 182 pounds; and freshman Kamakana Kanahele, 0-3 at 220 pounds.
“Overall, this was probably about as good of a start as we’ve had,” said coach Dennis Durr.
The Glacier Bears placed eighth out of 14 schools in team scoring, just behind Juneau-Douglas High School. Ketchikan won the title, followed by Wrangell, Craig, Thunder Mountain, Sitka and Mount Edgecumbe. Haines finished ahead of Petersburg, Thorne Bay, Hoonah, Hydaburg, Kake and Klawock.
“We’re right in there,” Durr said. “It was pretty good for a small team.”
Durr noted the level of competition and number of entrants vary in each weight class. For example, Mori Hays’ 145-pound class is “very stacked,” Durr said. “Most of our guys are in the mix.”
The meet also marked the senior Trevor Cox’s return to wrestling after transferring from Skagway and sitting out last season. Cox was a state qualifier for the Panthers.
“He looked really strong,” Durr said. “He’s competing at a high level, certainly.”
Haines next will enter the Brandon Pilot Invitational Wrestling Tournament at Thunder Mountain High School this weekend.