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Seven Kotzebue wrestlers place at state: Reich, Hansen, O'Hara, Atkinson, Phillips and Roetmans all win medals

December 16th 2:09 pm | Van Williams Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

When told that the Kotzebue High School wrestling team extended its streak of top-5 finishes at the state tournament this year, junior standout Scott Hansen didn't say much.

That's because he wasn't surprised.

"We've always had tough wrestlers," he said.

The Huskies flexed their muscles again with a fifth-place finish at the ASAA State Championships last week in Nikiski. It's the seventh straight season they have placed among the top five teams in the biggest meet of the year.

The wrestlers are aware of the achievement - just don't expect them to brag about it.

"We just want to represent Kotzebue the right way," Hansen said.

Mission accomplished.

Hansen and teammate Brett Reich each advanced to the finals to lead a contingent of seven medal winners for the Mark Lane-coached Huskies.

At 106 pounds, Reich reached the championship match as a sophomore and nearly won, dropping a 6-5 decision to Darin Davis of Sitka.

The match ended with Reich holding Davis in a cradle position as he went for a pin, but time expired.

"Oh, man I wanted that pin," Reich said. "The last time I wrestled him at state last year I got him in that same move."

Trailing late in the match, the Kotzebue sophomore nearly pulled off the improbable with a last-second pin.

"After a while my hands got broken," he said. "Got my near fall, but couldn't pin him, so I let go of my grip and I was going to get it again but the time ran out."

At 132, Hansen reached the state finals for the second consecutive season.

He dropped a tough 4-3 decision to Will Patrick of Sitka.

"I wasn't very happy with the way I did because I took second last year at state," Hansen said. "With the way I've been working and stuff, it hasn't really paid off yet the way I wanted it."

The junior is especially hungry for gold like never before.

But he still appreciates his journey.

"I'm happy I made it to the finals," Hansen said. "That's an accomplishment in itself I guess."

Another accomplishment was the fact that Kotzebue had six guys medal between the 132 and 152 weight classes, including two at 132 [Hansen, Josh Roetman] and two at 138 [Doug O'Hara and Noah Roetman].

Those weight classes are so competitive that at practice you may have a state placer getting thrown by a third stringer. Guys have to stay on their toes at all times.

"It's pretty brutal in the room," Hansen said.

At 138, O'Hara edged Roetman 3-1 in the third-place match.

But that matchup could go the other way on any other given day.

"It's always back and forth," Hansen said. "You never know which one is going to win."

At 145, Sam Atkinson placed sixth.

At 152, Devon Phillips placed fourth.

 

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