By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
In the first home match of the season, Mt. Edgecumbe’s wrestlers narrowly defeated Sitka High, with the final score Edgecumbe 39, Sitka 35.
Wolves’ coach Will Patrick said that Colton Ewers and Sid Fleming were standouts, and “wrestled very, very well. I’m looking forward to them wrestling down the line.”
Ewers matched up against and defeated MEHS’ Elston Dock. Fleming beat Kael Osborn.
Coach Patrick noted that because Edgecumbe didn’t have wrestlers in the weight class of John Welsh or Max Johnson, those two wrestlers faced each other as an exhibition.
Mt. Edgecumbe wrestlers Roman Lowe and Jared Alirkar compete in a 140-pound exhibition match, Wednesday, at Sitka High School. Edgecumbe scored a narrow victory over Sitka in the end. (Sentinel photo)
Welsh and Johnson are two of the Wolves’ top performers.
Mt. Edgecumbe coach Jeff Sato noted that on his team “there were a lot that were good.” Sato said that Dayton Hoblet scored 14 points before falling once. “He did really good,” said Sato.
Senior Lloydy Ayojiak “didn’t give up any offensive points,” according to the coach. Emilio Mangrobang did the same, denying any offensive points to Sitka.
It was Cameron Tai’s freshman debut as well. He beat Wolves’ Kyle Remington 10-6.
Neither Sitka nor Edgecumbe will attend the wrestling match this weekend in Haines. Their next competition will be in Ketchikan, November 1-2. SHS coach Patrick said that he’s “really excited for it – we’re taking the full team.” He noted that 3A runner up from 2018 Glen Allen will be present, making for a tough contest.
Also on the wrestling scene, Hames Center is hosting a seminar featuring noted UFC fighters Clay Guida, Joey Rodriguez, Danny Castillo and Josh Emmett this weekend. Emmett is ranked tenth in the UFC featherweight class. Many Sitka High wrestlers will be present at the workshops, which run Saturday to Monday. Registration for the events is closed, but gym members can watch. The main seminar is Monday, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Local Sitkan wrestler Victor Littlefield, who helped coordinate the events, said that the goal is to “get some Sitka Wolves some awesome world-class training.” Sitka High Activities Director Rich Krupa also helped coordinate the wrestling workshop. Littlefield said that the UFC fighters are normally paid well for their travel, but have come to Sitka for free. According to Littlefield, the UFC fighters will do “anything for USA wrestling, and anything for the kids.”
