The state wrestling championship was held in Anchorage at the end of December. Skagway junior, Brenden Moncibaiz, finished 4th.
“It’s just been fun watching this team grow, and they’ve all succeeded really well at regionals. We had, you know, Brenden won his weight class at regions, and then we had two third place finishers and some fifth place finishers.” states Kaylie Smith, Skagway High School’s Athletic Director.
This was Skagway’s wrestling coach Tyson Ames’s first year coaching. Smith says “He has a promising future with the team. He did a really great job of setting these kids up for success in all aspects of wrestling life, all things. And so as an activities director, you know, it’s, it’s great to have somebody head of the program that, you know, values other wrestling and, you know, school work, respect things like that. So we’re very excited about this program and where it’s going, especially, you know, we had no program for so long.”
For Haines, the team had five wrestlers compete at the championship and four take the podium, for their respective weight classes. Coach Andus Hale says it was a great night for the team.
“We had our one wrestler, Finn crow at 103. He did win two matches up there, which was fantastic. So he went two and two, and just fell, just barely fell short of making it to the podium. And then Colton Combs wound up with sixth place. He found himself on the podium for that, which is fantastic. And then we had three make the finals, James Stickler, Dalton Henry and Hayden Jimenez and James wound up with the second place, and then Hayden and Dalton won a state title, both of them each. So we’re very pleased that it’s the first time Haines has ever won two state titles in a single year, like that. So we were very pleased about those results.” Hale says.
The state championship was also the last night of high school for seniors Hayden Jimenez and Dalton Henry. Jimenez says in between matches, he was completing finals.
“There’s so many times where I’d just be stressing about wrestling, like, ‘Oh, what if this thing happened?’ And on top of that, school, I literally finished, I turned in my final on Friday of state. So I was literally just procrastinating till that point, obviously.” Jimenez Chuckles “So, I was in between matches, in the hallway, turning in my freaking English final. But then I was done with school.”
Although the state matches are finished, Jimenez’s wrestling career isn’t over yet.
“I am going to Gilroy, California to go train for nationals, which is in March from the 14th to 16th. Then I’ll be back to Haines in May. Wrestle club state there, and then walking, and then we’ll see.” Jimenez states.