While Homer will celebrate no state champion wrestlers this week, three Homer wrestlers did place at last weekend's state tournament in Chugiak.

The state tournament is the end of the road for the season for many wrestlers, and marks the end of long daily practices and constant weight-watching.

Three Homer mat men met that end with honors, placing in the top six against the best 4A wrestlers from around the state.

Eli Garvey came home with a sixth place at 103 pounds. Garvey lost his final match against rival Hope Steffensen of Kenai by a 3-1 decision.

Homer's best hope for a state title, Hurricane Mitch Wyatt took third place at 152 pounds. Trent Lemons of Lathrop knocked him out of the championship bracket in the semi-finals. Lemons later went on to take second place, losing by pin to Luke Shelley of South.

Wyatt is a junior this year and looks to do nothing but improve and be in the state championship hunt once again in 2010.

The final Mariner to place was Josh Brandt, who took sixth place at 215 pounds.

Brandt lost his final match against Kenai's Donny Dormady.

DJ Marsengill at 119 pounds, Shlomo Gherman at 145 pounds, Larry Croft at 189 pounds and Ben Harville at 285 pounds also wrestled, but did not place.

In team scores, Homer placed 12th out of 22 schools competing.

Coach Chris Perk noted the Mariners had a strong season and only look to improve going into 2010.

"I think we did well. We were pretty young with a lot of sophomores. They got a lot of mat time and I think next year they will be primed to win some matches at state. We're losing two seniors this year, but we're coming back with a lot of experience next year," said Perk.

Ryan M. Long can be reached at ryan.long.@homernews.com