Submitted by VHS Wrestling Coach
Valdez Buccaneer wrestling has officially begun for the Fall 2024 season. This year the team consists of 28 student athletes with 11 seniors (Carlie Vanbuskirk, Dalen Beck, Landon Metzger, James Garcia, Romen Weber, Rylen Case, Travis Ray, Warren Blood, AJ Tudela, Andrew Baczuk, and Eli Critchlow). This year the season kicked off at the annual Houston Altercation Invitational and the Wasilla JV Scramble.
At the varsity level the Bucs had four placers: Kirstyn Passin – 1st place in the 145-pound girls division, Carlie Vanbuskirk – 2nd place in the 152-pound girls division, Cirque Carter – 4th place in the 125 pound division, and Romen Weber – 1st place in the 171 pound division. Freshman Kirstyn Passin began her high school career in dominant fashion, winning every match by pin, including in the finals where she pinned her opponent in 3 minutes and 28 seconds. Carlie, a returning state runner-up, had a strong showing making it to the finals where she faced returning state champion Daisy Hannevold of Soldotna, but ended up dropping the match via pin. Cirque Carter also represented the freshman class well making the semifinals and ending with a 4th place finish. Senior Romen Weber, a 3rd place finisher at last year’s state tournament, battled his way to the finals where he faced Hunter Terbeek from SWDP. Romen ended up scoring a takedown in dramatic fashion in the final seconds of the match to secure the win. The Bucs were also well represented by several others throughout the weekend at the varsity level and although they did not end up with the results they had hoped. Honorable mention at the varsity level goes to Freshman Logan Beck, Kaden Vanbuskirk, Julian Crater, and Malin Blood.
On Saturday we also had wrestlers competing at the Wasilla JV Scramble with strong performances coming from some of the underclassmen. Overall, I was very happy with the effort and attitude put forth by the entire team and I look forward to watching this team compete throughout the rest of the season. Next weekend the Bucs host the annual Throwdown in Snow town Tournament at Valdez High School. Friday will feature dual meet action all day and ending with Senior night at 4:15 where the Bucs will face the Redington Huskies. We look forward to having the community come by and support us! Go Bucs!
Houston Altercation Results
Varsity girls 114G
Melanie Leeds’s place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Melanie Roseleeds (Valdez High School) won by fall over Chevelle Lamb (Soldotna) (Fall 0:32)
- Semifinal – Hayden VanderPool (Colony High School) won by fall over Melanie Roseleeds (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:34)
- Cons. Semi – Helena Woodfork (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Melanie Roseleeds (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:05)
Varsity girls 120G
Kaitlyn Morgan’s place is unknown and has scored 6.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Julie Hardison (Palmer High School) won by fall over Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:55)
- Cons. Round 1 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sequoia Plummer (Palmer High School) (Fall 1:10)
- Cons. Round 3 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) won by tech fall over Iselin Swalling (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) (TF 17-1)
- Cons. Semi – Alexis Mitchell (Colony High School) won by fall over Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:38)
Varsity girls 126G
Jewely Weber’s place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Jewely Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Abigail Paddock (Palmer High School) (Fall 3:09)
- Quarterfinal – Pagan Lester (Newhalen) won by major decision over Jewely Weber (Valdez High School) (Maj 13-0)
- Cons. Round 2 – Sienna Mickelson (Kodiak) won by fall over Jewely Weber (Valdez High School) (Fall 3:26)
Varsity girls 145G
Sophia Neahr’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Lydia Taysom (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:14)
- Cons. Round 2 – Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 3 – Aura Weinberger-Caruthers (Houston) won by fall over Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:59)
Varsity girls 145G
Kirstyn Passin’s place is 1st and has scored 26.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Kirstyn Passin (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Kirstyn Passin (Valdez High School) won by fall over Abbigail Miller (Houston) (Fall 0:37)
- Semifinal – Kirstyn Passin (Valdez High School) won by fall over Alejandra Roman (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) (Fall 1:29)
- 1st Place Match – Kirstyn Passin (Valdez High School) won by fall over Josephine Granger (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) (Fall 3:28)
Varsity girls 152G
Carlie Vanbuskirk’s place is 2nd and has scored 16.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Carlie Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Semifinal – Carlie Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) won by fall over Reiana Helms (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) (Fall 0:42)
- 1st Place Match – Daisy Hannevold (Soldotna) won by fall over Carlie Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:13)
Varsity Boys 125
Rylen Case’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Rylen Case (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Sawyer Love (Susitna Valley Jr/Sr High School) won by fall over Rylen Case (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:40)
- Cons. Round 2 – Rylen Case (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 3 – Jb Carlos (Unalaska) won by decision over Rylen Case (Valdez High School) (Dec 1-0)
Varsity Boys 125
Cirque Carter’s place is 4th and has scored 12.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Cirque Carter (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Cirque Carter (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Zachary Viernes (Wasilla High School) (Maj 14-6)
- Semifinal – Emery Kirchner (Seward High School) won by fall over Cirque Carter (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:28)
- Cons. Semi – Cirque Carter (Valdez High School) won by fall over Jb Carlos (Unalaska) (Fall 2:27)
- 3rd Place Match – Bradyn Hauck (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Cirque Carter (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:27)
Varsity Boys 130
Rylen Labonte’s place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 – Isaiah Schultz (Colony High School) won by fall over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:57)
- Cons. Round 2 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 3 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Hunter Moeller (Wasilla High School) (Maj 11-3)
- Cons. Round 4 – Cameron Toston (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) (Fall 3:41)
Varsity Boys 130
Kaden Vanbuskirk’s place is unknown and has scored 9.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Kaden Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 – Kaden Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) won by fall over Jace Gilliam (Soldotna) (Fall 3:40)
- Quarterfinal – Kaden Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) won by tech fall over Jake Olson (Colony High School) (TF 17-2)
- Semifinal – Carson Cobb (Soldotna) won by tech fall over Kaden Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) (TF 18-3)
- Cons. Semi – Cache Henning (Unalaska) won by decision over Kaden Vanbuskirk (Valdez High School) (Dec 10-3)
Varsity Boys 135
Logan Beck’s place is unknown and has scored 8.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Logan Beck (Valdez High School) won by decision over Peyton Wright (Wasilla High School) (Dec 10-3)
- Quarterfinal – Frank Rodriguez (Student Wrestling Development Program) won by fall over Logan Beck (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:36)
- Cons. Round 2 – Logan Beck (Valdez High School) won by fall over Aaron Crandall (Kodiak) (Fall 0:34)
- Cons. Round 3 – Logan Beck (Valdez High School) won by fall over Jonah Arndt (Kodiak) (Fall 3:38)
- Cons. Semi – Kendall Wyble (Student Wrestling Development Program) won by fall over Logan Beck (Valdez High School) (Fall 4:41)
Varsity Boys 140
Malin Blood’s place is unknown and has scored 5.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Malin Blood (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Malin Blood (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Alexander King (Colony High School) (Maj 15-3)
- Semifinal – Hunter Forshee-Kurtz (Seward High School) won by fall over Malin Blood (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:53)
- Cons. Semi – Hudson Bartlett (Wasilla High School) won by forfeit over Malin Blood (Valdez High School) (FF)
Varsity Boys 145
Spencer Disney’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Cayson Mastberg (Palmer High School) won by fall over Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:24)
- Cons. Round 1 – Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Kaden Ortiz (Colony High School) won by fall over Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:29)
Varsity Boys 152
Jax Salmeri’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – William Lindsey (Palmer High School) won by fall over Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:55)
- Cons. Round 1 – Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Rogue Henning (Unalaska) won by fall over Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:32)
Varsity Boys 160
Dalen Beck’s place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Kodi Hollis (Student Wrestling Development Program) won by fall over Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:33)
- Cons. Round 1 – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) won by fall over Drake Attwood (Houston) (Fall 1:10)
- Cons. Round 2 – Carson Crotts (Grace Christian School) won by decision over Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) (Dec 9-7)
Varsity Boys 171
Romen Weber’s place is 1st and has scored 25.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Champ. Round 2 – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Lewis Barrows (Colony High School) (Fall 0:45)
- Quarterfinal – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by tech fall over Kaidon Parker (Unalaska) (TF 21-4)
- Semifinal – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by decision over Max Moat (Wasilla High School) (Dec 6-1)
- 1st Place Match – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by decision over Hunter Terbeek (Student Wrestling Development Program) (Dec 7-5)
Varsity Boys 171
Travis Ray’s place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Ikaia Flores (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) won by fall over Travis Ray (Valdez High School) (Fall 3:21)
- Cons. Round 1 – Travis Ray (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Travis Ray (Valdez High School) won by injury default over Lewis Barrows (Colony High School) (Inj. 1:51)
- Cons. Round 3 – Brady Crotts (Grace Christian School) won by fall over Travis Ray (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:58)
Varsity Boys 189
Warren Blood’s place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Alex Kemp (Student Wrestling Development Program) won by tech fall over Warren Blood (Valdez High School) (TF 15-0)
- Cons. Round 1 – Warren Blood (Valdez High School) won by fall over Ephraim Lockuk (Wasilla High School) (Fall 1:45)
- Cons. Semi – Thor Nelson (Colony High School) won by tech fall over Warren Blood (Valdez High School) (TF 20-4)
Varsity Boys 189
Aj Tudela’s place is unknown and has scored 3.0 team points.
- Quarterfinal – Rodney McNeel (Soldotna) won by major decision over Aj Tudela (Valdez High School) (Maj 8-0)
- Cons. Round 1 – Aj Tudela (Valdez High School) won by fall over Noah Benoit (Wasilla High School) (Fall 1:36)
- Cons. Semi – Alex Kemp (Student Wrestling Development Program) won by major decision over Aj Tudela (Valdez High School) (Maj 15-3)
Varsity Boys 215
Julian Crater’s place is unknown and has scored 7.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Julian Crater (Valdez High School) won by fall over Erik Bjorn-Roli (Grace Christian School) (Fall 3:20)
- Quarterfinal – James Lackey (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Julian Crater (Valdez High School) (Fall 1:31)
- Cons. Round 2 – Julian Crater (Valdez High School) won by fall over Teto Hartley (Wasilla High School) (Fall 4:55)
- Cons. Round 3 – Kavik Skonberg (Kodiak) won by fall over Julian Crater (Valdez High School) (Fall 3:19)
Wasilla JV Scramble Results for Valdez High School
Girls 114G
Melanie Roseleeds’s place is 3rd and has scored 2.0 team points.
- Round 2 – Melanie Roseleeds (Valdez High School) won by fall over Brigette Stevens (Kodiak) (Fall 1:44)
- Round 3 – Melanie Roseleeds (Valdez High School) won by fall over Alexis OMary (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) (Fall 4:27)
Girls 120G
Kaitlyn Morgan’s place is 1st and has scored 20.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sequoia Plummer (Palmer High School) (Fall 0:32)
- Round 2 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Round 3 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) won by decision over Iselin Swalling (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) (Dec 11-6)
- Round 4 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) won by fall over Marley Jane Burns (Palmer High School) (Fall 0:37)
- Round 5 – Kaitlyn Morgan (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
Girls 145G
Sophia Neahr’s place is 5th and has scored 5.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Round 2 – Lydia Taysom (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:45)
- Round 3 – Alejandre Roman (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) won by fall over Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:14)
- Round 4 – Ahna Morphis (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) won by tech fall over Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) (TF 16-1)
- Round 5 – Abbigail Miller (Houston) won by forfeit over Sophia Neahr (Valdez High School) (FF)
Boy JV B 112
Gerald Rice’s place is 3rd and has scored 11.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Gerald Rice (Valdez High School) won by decision over Drew Riedel (South Anchorage High School) (Dec 20-17)
- Round 2 – Gerald Rice (Valdez High School) won by fall over Kyler Wheat (Colony High School) (Fall 0:49)
- Round 3 – Leo Bukala (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) won by fall over Gerald Rice (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:11)
- Round 4 – Gerald Rice (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Round 5 – Alexander Probasco (Wasilla High School) won by no contest over Gerald Rice (Valdez High School) (NC)
Boy JV B 130
Rylen Labonte’s place is 4th and has scored 7.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Arius Atwood (Colony High School) won by fall over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) (Fall 2:05)
- Round 2 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) won by decision over Gavin Bean (Kodiak) (Dec 10-4)
- Round 3 – Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) won by decision over Kyle Nayokpuk (South Anchorage High School) (Dec 8-6)
- Championship Bracket – William Edgerton (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) (Fall 4:39)
- 3rd Place Match – Asher Halstead (Colony High School) won by no contest over Rylen Labonte (Valdez High School) (NC)
Boy JV B 135
William Gittens’s place is 4th and has scored 11.0 team points.
- Round 1 – William Gittens (Valdez High School) won by fall over Leo Tsai (Houston) (Fall 1:58)
- Round 2 – Byron Reynolds (Colony High School) won by fall over William Gittens (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:29)
- Round 3 – William Gittens (Valdez High School) won by fall over Rafael Hernandez (Unalaska) (Fall 3:21)
- Championship Bracket – Vaughn Rosenberger (South Anchorage High School) won by major decision over William Gittens (Valdez High School) (Maj 12-2)
- 3rd Place Match – Cannon Unrein (Seward High School) won by no contest over William Gittens (Valdez High School) (NC)
Boy JV B 152
Jax Salmeri’s place is 6th and has scored 3.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Haakon Erickson (Colony High School) won by fall over Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) (Fall 4:29)
- Round 2 – Mac Roderick (Colony High School) won by decision over Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) (Dec 6-4)
- Round 3 – Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) won by decision over Gage Williams (West Anchorage) (Dec 10-4)
- Consolation Bracket – Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- 5th Place Match – Orion Wranich (East Anchorage High School) won by forfeit over Jax Salmeri (Valdez High School) (FF)
Boy JV B 171
Travis Ray’s place is 4th and has scored 10.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Travis Ray (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Joseph Farmer (West Anchorage) (Maj 11-0)
- Round 2 – Travis Ray (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
- Round 3 – Travis Ray (Valdez High School) won by fall over Odin Dirkes (Bartlett High) (Fall 2:27)
- Championship Bracket – William Siebert (South Anchorage High School) won by fall over Travis Ray (Valdez High School) (Fall 4:58)
- 3rd Place Match – Ikaia Flores (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) won by no contest over Travis Ray (Valdez High School) (NC)
Boy JV B 189
Oden Halley’s place is 8th and has scored 1.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Shaw Banfield (Chugiak High School) won by fall over Oden Halley (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:18)
- Round 2 – Lucas Quennell (Colony High School) won by fall over Oden Halley (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:16)
- Round 3 – Ephraim Lockuk (Wasilla High School) won by fall over Oden Halley (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:51)
- Consolation Bracket – Josh Weeks (Redington Sr. Jr/Sr High School) won by fall over Oden Halley (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:18)
- 7th Place Match – Steljo Wolcoff (Palmer High School) and Oden Halley (Valdez High School) (DFF)
Boys JV C 145
Spencer Disney’s place is 5th and has scored 6.0 team points.
- Round 1 – Brody Hartman (Service High School Cougars) won by fall over Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:31)
- Round 2 – Broc Smith (South Anchorage High School) won by fall over Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) (Fall 3:43)
- Round 3 – Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Troop Garrett (Chugiak High School) (Maj 13-5)
- Round 4 – Avri Ginn (Palmer High School) won by fall over Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) (Fall 0:55)
- Round 5 – Marshall Moat (Wasilla High School) won by no contest over Spencer Disney (Valdez High School) (NC)