Illness and injuries dampened the Mariner wrestling team’s performance at the Lancer Smith Memorial Tournament in Palmer last weekend. With 44 points overall, Homer tied with Cordova in 22nd place.
Bright spots for the event were Pedro Ochoa and Calvin Johnson wrestling against opponents with stronger records.
“We didn’t really have a good showing up. Some of the kids are sick and we had a couple of injuries. So, it wasn’t a pretty performance,” said assistant coach Bubba Wells.
The tournament held a few moments of interest for the team though.
“It wasn’t that good. But we had some good match-ups,” said Wells.
Pedro Ochoa, 152, had his first match against Ryan Radmer of Houston. Radmer was fourth seed in the state and seeded number three for small schools. Radmer went on to win third place for his weight class in the tournament.
“It was a battle, a major match-up for seeding for state,” said Wells.
Though Ochoa made an excellent opponent this weekend, he still is strengthening his skills as a wrestler.
“This is (Ochoa’s) third tourney. He’s still getting the cobwebs out. He should be good by regions. He’s improving every week,” Wells said.
Calvin Johnson, 113, continued to power through competitions. Johnson was seeded fourth for the tournament and placed fourth overall. He won his first three matches by pin, but lost the first round of semi-finals to Seth Hutchinson of Skyview.
Johnson won his second semi-final. In the third-fourth bracket, he lost his last match against Matt Glover of South Anchorage. The four-to-one match was lost by decision in the last 30 seconds.
The Mariners traveled to Kenai to wrestle against the Kards Tuesday.
They are away at Skyview this weekend, competing in the last wrestling tournament at Skyview before that school closes at the end of this school year. The tourney begins at
1 p.m.
“We’re pretty evenly matched, so it should be a good showing,” Wells said. “Saturday is their senior night and there’s going to be a huge alumni event.”
Lander Smith
Memorial Tournament
Palmer Nov. 22-23
Team scores: 1, South 189; 2, Wasilla 187.5; 3, Palmer 151.5; 4, East 147; 5, Colony 141.5; 6, Kodiak 139.5; 7, Kotzebue 139; 8, Bethel 137.5; 9, Nome 118.5; 10, Valdez 114.5; 11, West 101; 12, North Pole 97.5; 13, Skyview 97; 14, Kenai 83; 15, Service 82.5; 16, Lathrop 81; 17, Houston 74.5; 18, Eagle River 73; 19, Chugiak 71; 20, Glennallen 59.5; 21, Dimond 50.5; 22, Cordova 44; 22, (tie) Homer 44; 24, West Valley 42; 25, Eielson 38.5; 26, Grace 37; 27, Bartlett 35; 28, (tie) Nikiski 35; 30, Seward 30; 31, Soldotna 18; 32, Anchorage Christian School 15; 33, Quinhagak 10; 34, Aniak 9; 35, Vozneskenka 4; 36, Napaskiak 4; 37, Delta 0; 37, (tie) Susitna Valley 0; 37, (tie) Yakutat 0.
