Submitted by Regina Blood
The Valdez Youth Wrestling Club, known as the Valdez Blizzards have had an amazing 2024 season. Starting practices in February, the club quickly grew to 84 members, aging from 6 years – 18 years old. We hosted a local wrestling day with the Cordova and Delta teams and attended many USAW sanctioned tournaments in Anchorage and the Valley. Wrestlers, Bryndi Beck and Heidi Frances attended Women’s Nationals in Spokane, Washington and Logan Beck wrestled at the US Open in Las Vegas.
Last week we attended Alaska USAW State Championship Tournaments. This event is made up of 3 different tournaments: Folkstyle, Freestyle and Greco. Wrestlers that place 1 st in all 3 tournaments are awarded the Triple Crown. This year Valdez had 3 wrestlers earn this title; Logan Beck(1 st 14U 136), Kasen St. Amand (1 st 12U-135lbs), Kirstyn Passin(1 st 14U 163). The team
also earned 3 rd place in the Freestyle Championship Kids DII Team Competition.
Other State placers include the following:
Freestyle:
Rosalee Dschaak (4 th 8U 43lbs), Rosalee Dschaak (1st 8U Girls 43lbs), Skyler Rogers (6 th 8u Girls 50lbs),Adam Garcia (6 th 8U 70lbs), Roy Dschaak (1st – 10U 49lbs), Bryndi Beck (4th 14U 92lbs), Bryndi Beck (2nd 14U Girls 90lbs), Heidi Frances (2nd 14U Girls 115lbs), Brad Wheeler (4th 14U 130lbs), Malin Blood (6th 14U 136lbs), Kaden VanBuskirk (6th 16U 144lbs), Romen Weber (4th Junior 165lbs), AJ Tudela (4th Junior 175lbs)
Folkstyle:
Roy Dscaak (2nd 10U 49lbs), Tyge Beck (5th 12U 108 lbs), Malin Blood (2nd 14U 136lbs), Bryndi Beck (2nd 14U Girls 90lbs), Heidi Frances (4th 14U 115lbs), Romen Weber (5th Junior 165lbs), AJ Tudela (5th Junior 175lbs)
Greco:
Roy Dschaak (1st 10U 49lbs), Tyge Beck (5th 12U 108lbs), Bryndi Beck (2nd 14U 90lbs), Heidi Frances (1st 14U 115lbs), Romen Weber (4th Junior 165lbs), Warren Blood (5th Junior 175lbs)
VYWC would like to thank the community of Valdez for all support given to our program as well as all the volunteers that make our program possible.
