Junior Wesley Verhamme took first at the regional wrestling tournament in Craig last weekend.
Verhamme, who’s ranked number one for small schools, will compete in the state championship Dec. 20-21 at the Alaska Airlines Center in Anchorage.
“I have five more matches to go, five more matches in the season,” Verhamme said of his goal to win the state championship. “My goal will be met when I’m in that final circle getting my hand raised.”
Coach Ben Bard said they’ve been preparing all season for this weekend’s tournament.
“This week is all about perfecting and honing the things we’ve worked on all season,” Bard said. “We have to be safe this week and focus on getting there and getting the job done.”
Verhamme’s record is 24-5 this season, including the two wins at the regional tournament.
Verhamme pinned a Wrangell wrestler in the second round during his first match in Craig. “In the first round I noticed he got gassed,” Verhamme said. “I still felt great so I knew the second round was when I was going to attack.”
He then faced Sitka’s Maximum Johnson, a wrestler he’s defeated several times this season, and one he’s sure to wrestle this weekend at state. Verhamme beat him 6-1, although he said his nerves got the better of him before the match.
“I had a lot of time to think. I think I overthought,” Verhamme said of days leading up to the tournament’s final match. “I got too excited too soon. By the time my finals match came up I felt kind of tired and gassed out before I even wrestled.”
Freshman Luke Davis also competed in the regional tournament, but had to wrestle in a weight class he was unaccustomed to. Because of a skin infection and an injury, Davis didn’t compete enough this season to wrestle in his weight class.
“He had some really good competition this weekend and, honestly, I think it’s the best he’s wrestled the whole year,” Bard said. “His record this weekend doesn’t reflect that because he went 0-2 but he wrestled the number one seed for our region and he took it to him.”
Bard said Davis is very committed and has high hopes for the young wrestler as he progresses.