Haines High School wrestlers finished in the top half of a 43-team field at an Anchorage tournament last weekend.
The Glacier Bears placed 20th overall, led by sophomore Cameron Bauer’s 6-2 record that earned him fifth place at 126 pounds.
“That was the most points we’ve scored in this tournament,” said coach Dennis Durr.
Homer, Bethel and Kotzebue took the top three spots. Some of the Southeast schools at the competition were Sitka, ninth place; Wrangell, 10th; Craig, 14th; Mount Edgecumbe, 17th; and Petersburg, 26th.
Bauer “lost his first match and came all the way back,” Durr said. Bauer, among 30 wrestlers in his weight class, tallied four pins in a row and a decision before losing a second time. He rebounded for another pin to land fifth place.
No other Glacier Bear placed in the tournament hosted by Anchorage Christian, though seniors Zane Durr (152 pounds) and Kai Hays (160 pounds) came close. Each grappler opened with two wins to reach the quarterfinals of their bracket, before ending up with 3-2 records.
“They’re right on the edge of placing there,” coach Durr said. “They only place the top six, so they just missed it.”
Other records for Haines were junior Charlie Bower, 2-2 at 120 pounds; senior Trevor Cox, 2-2 at 138 pounds; junior Mori Hays, 0-2 at 145 pounds; senior Tyler Murphy, 2-2 at 182 pounds; and freshman Kamakana Kanahele, 0-2 at 220 pounds.
Durr said the massive meet was “a good learning experience” because “we get to see where we stand in the state.” He said the Glacier Bears are “right there, in the mix.”
The next scheduled meet for Haines is Dec. 4-5 in Sitka.