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Kotzebue's O'hara, Haviland lead wrestlers

November 19th 12:48 am | Van Williams Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Just do it.

That's the mentality Kotzebue High School wrestling coach Mark Lane wants his team to take to the mat.

Too often he has watched kids overthink a match, so the championship coach wants his wrestlers to just do it. Don't think about it.

Kotzebue star Doug O'Hara was one wrestler who especially benefited from the just-do-it strategy.

"Doug just let it flow," Lane said. "He just went out and wrestled, and did not worry about scores or wins and losses. That stuff will take care of itself when you just compete."

O'Hara enjoyed a 4-0 weekend, with the 138-pounder winning two matches by pin, one by technical fall and one by forfeit. (Hey, he still had to make weight.)

O'Hara pinned opponents from Soldotna and Kodiak and beat another from Homer by a 17-1 score.

"He looked quick on his feet," Lane said. "He wrestled like he is capable of."

Another strong performer this week was freshman Zach Haviland. He's a big, strong kid wrestling at 145.

But this weekend he was bumped up to 160.

He lost two of three matches, but that's not the point. His willingness to take the challenge is worth noting.

"Zach's competitiveness and I-don't-care-who-you-are attitude is really starting to pay off."

Just a rookie, he is morphing into a veteran in front of Lane's eyes.

"Zach is starting to figure out how to finish matches and score a lot of points in the process," Lane said. "I look for Zach to keep pushing himself and improving along the way.

"Zach is a force now in the state, and will be for a long time if he keeps driving toward his goals and pushing himself every chance he gets."

Haviland is among a promising group of Kotzebue underclassmen.

"They continue to improve as the season goes along and I look forward to seeing them in regions and state," Lane said.

Other match winners for the Huskies included:

Soldotna 47, Kotzebue 29

132 Hansen (Kotz) TF Price (Sohi) 18-1

160 Foust (Kotz) WBF Jessup (Sohi) 1:54

106 Reich (Kotz) WBF McKinley (Sohi) :25

Homer 43, Kotzebue 28

145 Eck (Kotz) WBF Peterson (Hom) 1:02

152 Phillips Kotz) WBF Peterson (Hom) :42

106 Reich (Kotz) TF Johnson (Hom) 2:41

132 Hansen (Kotz) WBF Marsengill (Hom) 1:50

Kotzebue 36, Kenai 33

182 Humphreys (Kotz) WBF Brown (Ken):26

HWT Foster (Kotz) WBF Drageth (Ken):25

Kodiak 45, Kotzebue 33

171 Jessup (Kotz) WBF Powers (Kod) :46

182 Humphries (Kotz) WBF Powers(Kod) 1:17

106 Reich (Kotz) WBF Cabella (Kod) 2:32

145 Eck (Kotz) Dec Beltram (Kod) 9-8

 

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