Senior Zane Durr again exceeded expectations at last month’s state wrestling tournament in Anchorage, with a fourth-place finish that matched the best-ever result for a Glacier Bear.
The only other Haines grappler to place that high was Jimmy Thomsen, who was fourth at state in 2012.
Durr posted a 4-2 record at 152 pounds and upped his season record to 19-11. His victories included two major decisions and two pins. He improved on his sixth-place finish as a junior at 145 pounds.
“That was two years in a row he came in unseeded and placed,” said Zane’s father and coach, Dennis Durr.
Four other Glacier Bears competed at state: sophomore Cameron Bauer and junior Charlie Bower at 126 pounds; senior Kai Hays at 160 pounds; and freshman Kamakana Kanahele at 220 pounds.
Bauer and Bower each went 1-2 at 126 pounds, winning by decision. Hays and Kanahele notched 0-2 records.
Kanahele said he is aiming for a much stronger result next year. “My goal is to go to state and place.”
He started wrestling as an eighth-grader, motivated by cousins who took up the sport.
Kanahele said wrestling is great for making friends, as his teammates “are pretty cool to hang out with.”
Those teammates helped Kanahele earn a state berth as the only freshman on the squad.
“It was really exciting,” he said. “I didn’t think I would get there this first year.”
Overall, the Glacier Bears tied for 26th as a team, out of 40 small schools scoring points for Class 1A, 2A and 3A. Homer, Bethel and Kotzebue were the top three finishers.
Southeast results included Sitka, seventh; Wrangell, 10th; Craig, 12th; Mount Edgecumbe, 13th; Metlakatla, 16th; Petersburg, 22nd; Thorne Bay, 29th; Hydaburg, 32nd; and Hoonah, 34th.
Coach Durr noted seniors Zane Durr and Kai Hays came up through the middle school wrestling program and combined to qualify for state five times in high school. “These guys have been teammates for a long time. That’s six years together.”