Wrestling: GV Sends Five Grapples to State

By Mike Uhl


All the Wolverine wrestlers qualified for the 2011 State meet, by placing in the district tournament matches earlier in February. It took a great effort and much dedication for these fine Garden Valley High student athletes to make it to State. Congratulations!

Freshman~~~Mark Hugon~~~~~103 pounds weight class
Sophomore~~Blaze Gray~~~~~~130 pounds weight class
Junior~~~~~Brad Christensen~~152 pounds weight class
Senior~~~~~Charlie Johnson~~~160 pounds weight class
Junior~~~~~Killian Sampo~~~~~171 pounds weight class

DAY ONE: Everyone had the honor to wrestle on Thursday, February 24, in the first round of the tournament at the Idaho Center in Nampa.

In the first match of the day, Wolverine freshman, Mark Hugon, was pitted against the Number 1 seed in the 103 pound weight class, senior Jamie Alonzo, from Declo. Alonzo got the pin after just 11 seconds of the match, to advance to the next round. Mark was just overwhelmed by more experience. NOTE: Jamie Alonzo went on to win the State title in this weight class, after defeating his younger brother.

In the 130 pound weight class, Blaze Gray came up against yet another wrestler from Declo, senior Justin Cameron. After 3:17, Blaze was pinned to the mat in a fall.

Brad Christensen was matched against a wrestler in his 152 pound weight class, Aaron Elliot, from Orofino. Brad put in a great effort, but he was also pinned after 2:47.

Senior Charlie Johnson, wrestling in the 160 pounds weight class, was up against senior Silas Connolley, from Grangeville. Senior vs senior, something has to give! Charlie got the decision 6-3 and moved on to the quarterfinals on Friday.

In the 171 pounds weight class, Garden Valley junior Killian Sampo was matched against senior Nathan Cook, from Wallace. After a long bout, Mr. Cook came out on top, 7-0.

DAY TWO: On Friday, February 25, in the quarterfinals, Wolverines' Charlie "The Horse"Johnson met Jason Gillette from Delco, in the second match of the day, in the 160 pound weight class. After a long, tough match that went back and forth, Jason got the decision over Charlie, 3-2. Jason went on to lose in the semifinals, to Ebben Lane, from Kamiah.

Congratulations to these skilled student athletes for their perseverance and hard work to make it to State. A BIG THANK YOU TO THE COACHES, PARENTS AND FANS for a great season. Will there be a wrestling program for these fine Garden Valley student athletes next year?