Congratulations to Coach Deaton for being named the Denali Conference Coach of the Year.
Submitted by Coach Deaton
Buccaneer wrestling returned to the mats this past weekend at the Denali Conference Championships. Leading the way for the Bucs and qualifying for the State tournament are Landon Metzger (2nd place 152lbs), Romen Weber (1st place 160lbs), AJ Tudela (2nd place 171lbs), Mckennan Mayer (1st place 189lbs), DJ Baron (1st place 285lbs), Jewely Weber (1st place 120lbs), and Carlie Vanbuskirk (1st place 152lbs). Valdez ended up finishing 3rd place overall as a team and swept the Outstanding Wrestler
(OW) awards, an award voted on by the coaches determining who the most “outstanding wrestler” of the tournament was for both boys and girls. Winning OW was Senior Mckennan Mayer and Junior Carlie Vanbuskirk, both pinning their way through the tournament. Also placing for the Bucs was Freshman Robert Taylor (3rd 119lbs), Rylen Labonte (3rd 125lbs), Eli Critchlow (3rd 145lbs), Dalen Beck (3rd 160lbs), and Warren Blood (3rd 171lbs). Next week the Bucs will leave Thursday morning for the State tournament.
ASAA Denali Results for Valdez High School
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Robert Taylor (9-14) placed 3rd and scored 7.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Robert Taylor (Valdez High School) 9-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Robert Taylor (Valdez High School) 9-14 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Trevor Rodriguez (Eielson High School) 11-20 won by major decision over Robert Taylor (Valdez High School) 9-14 (MD 13-3)
Cons. Semi – Robert Taylor (Valdez High School) 9-14 received a bye () (Bye)
3rd Place Match – Robert Taylor (Valdez High School) 9-14 received a bye () (Bye)
2nd Place Match – Trevor Rodriguez (Eielson High School) 11-20 won by no contest over Robert Taylor (Valdez High School) 9-14 (NC)
125
Rylen Labonte (7-9) placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Patrick Attungana (Delta) 15-9 won by fall over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 (Fall 2:56)
Cons. Round 2 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Round 3 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 won by fall over Rico Sallison (Galena Hawks) 3-10 (Fall 2:29)
3rd Place Match – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 won by fall over Dashiel Voisine (Susitna Valley Jr/Sr High School) 0-2 (Fall 5:47)
2nd Place Match – Patrick Attungana (Delta) 15-9 won by no contest over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) 7-9 (NC)
145
Eli Critchlow (22-11) placed 3rd and scored 18.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) 22-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) 22-11 won by fall over Kaden Dawe (Delta) 2-12 (Fall 5:02)
Semifinal – Gabriel Livaudais (Eielson High School) 14-14 won by fall over Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) 22-11 (Fall 2:15)
Cons. Semi – Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) 22-11 won by fall over Garrett Heath (Delta) 7-11 (Fall 1:55)
3rd Place Match – Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) 22-11 won by fall over Simeon Chernev (Hutchison High School) 16-11 (Fall 5:31)
2nd Place Match – Gabriel Livaudais (Eielson High School) 14-14 won by no contest over Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) 22-11 (NC)
152
Landon Metzger (17-9) placed 2nd and scored 18.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Landon Metzger (Valdez High School) 17-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Landon Metzger (Valdez High School) 17-9 won by fall over Josiah Ruse (Delta) 1-12 (Fall 1:21)
Semifinal – Landon Metzger (Valdez High School) 17-9 won by decision over Daniel Bingham (Eielson High School) 21-17 (Dec 9-4)
1st Place Match – Matthew Lawhorne (Delta) 18-8 won by decision over Landon Metzger (Valdez High School) 17-9 (Dec 5-0)
2nd Place Match – Landon Metzger (Valdez High School) 17-9 won by no contest over Daniel Bingham (Eielson High School) 21-17 (NC)
160
Romen Weber (30-11) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) 30-11 won by fall over Josh Barney (Hutchison High School) 4-9 (Fall 0:24)
Quarterfinal – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) 30-11 won by fall over Cody Smith (Galena Hawks) 2-10 (Fall 1:34)
Semifinal – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) 30-11 won by decision over William Douglas (Delta) 20-7 (Dec 4-3)
1st Place Match – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) 30-11 won by decision over Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) 32-8 (Dec 12-5)
160
Brandon Smith (8-15) place is unknown.
Champ. Round 1 – Brandon Smith (Valdez High School) 8-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Gabe Mannan (Hutchison High School) 16-13 won by fall over Brandon Smith (Valdez High School) 8-15 (Fall 3:09)
Cons. Round 2 – Joseph Sword (Hutchison High School) 20-17 won by fall over Brandon Smith (Valdez High School) 8-15 (Fall 2:37)
160
Dalen Beck (32-8) placed 3rd.
Champ. Round 1 – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) 32-8 won by fall over Trey Hillary (Tok High) 3-8 (Fall 0:59)
Quarterfinal – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) 32-8 won by major decision over Loch Johnson (Eielson High School) 16-21 (MD 9-0)
Semifinal – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) 32-8 won by fall over Gabe Mannan (Hutchison High School) 16-13 (Fall 4:57)
1st Place Match – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) 30-11 won by decision over Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) 32-8 (Dec 12-5)
2nd Place Match – William Douglas (Delta) 20-7 won by forfeit over Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) 32-8 (For.)
171
AJ Tudela (20-15) placed 2nd and scored 20.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – AJ Tudela (Valdez High School) 20-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – AJ Tudela (Valdez High School) 20-15 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – AJ Tudela (Valdez High School) 20-15 won by fall over Noah Douglas (Delta) 14-17 (Fall 1:04)
1st Place Match – Michael David (Hutchison High School) 32-5 won by decision over AJ Tudela (Valdez High School) 20-15 (Dec 11-8)
2nd Place Match – AJ Tudela (Valdez High School) 20-15 won by fall over Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 (Fall 3:04)
171
Warren Blood (11-11) placed 3rd.
Champ. Round 1 – Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Michael David (Hutchison High School) 32-5 won by decision over Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 (Dec 12-9)
Cons. Semi – Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 received a bye () (Bye)
3rd Place Match – Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 won by fall over Noah Douglas (Delta) 14-17 (Fall 1:24)
2nd Place Match – AJ Tudela (Valdez High School) 20-15 won by fall over Warren Blood (Valdez High School) 11-11 (Fall 3:04)
189
Mckennan Mayer (23-4) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) 23-4 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) 23-4 won by fall over Johnathon Peter (Nenana High School) 0-7 (Fall 0:57)
Semifinal – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) 23-4 won by fall over Gage Harvey (Susitna Valley Jr/Sr High School) 3-2 (Fall 4:29)
1st Place Match – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) 23-4 won by fall over Micah Howell (Delta) 16-11 (Fall 3:16)
285
Dennis Baron (6-9) placed 1st and scored 20.0 team points.
Champ. Round 1 – Dennis Baron (Valdez High School) 6-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Quarterfinal – Dennis Baron (Valdez High School) 6-9 received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Dennis Baron (Valdez High School) 6-9 won by decision over Canyon Wrigley (Delta) 13-12 (Dec 7-6)
1st Place Match – Dennis Baron (Valdez High School) 6-9 won by decision over Matthew Baird (Eielson High School) 23-16 (Dec 9-2)
120G
Jewely Weber (7-14) placed 1st and scored 18.0 team points.
Semifinal – Jewely Weber (Valdez High School) 7-14 received a bye () (Bye)
1st Place Match – Jewely Weber (Valdez High School) 7-14 won by fall over Kylie Alfred (Hutchison High School) 7-19 (Fall 3:47)
152G
Carlie VanBuskirk (23-0) placed 1st and scored 20.0 team points.
Semifinal – Carlie VanBuskirk (Valdez High School) 23-0 won by fall over Zoe Fuller (Eielson High School) 6-18 (Fall 0:58)
1st Place Match – Carlie VanBuskirk (Valdez High School) 23-0 won by fall over Calyse Clark (Delta) 17-10 (Fall 3:04)
