With the sprint to the conference and state tournaments started in earnest, the Soldotna wrestling team took dual meets from Kenai Central and Nikiski on Tuesday at Kenai Central High School.

On a night where the Kardinals honored seniors Jenna Yeoman, Atlas Ruark, Lochlyn Roney, Juniper Porter, Aiden Petla, Jason Johnson and Delen Byrd, the Stars topped the Kardinals 118-15 and the Bulldogs 115-11.

Also, Nikiski defeated Kenai 53-39.

Soldotna head coach Pete Dickinson was happy with the way his squad performed after being out of competition since Nov. 23.

“It’s always tough coming out after Thanksgiving,” Dickinson said.

SoHi had many highlights.

Rodney McNeel scored a 14-7 decision over Nikiski’s Rex Wittmer at 215 pounds.

“That was a really big win for Rodney,” Dickinson said. “Rodney had gotten two losses to him back a few years ago.”

At 152, Michael Dickinson got a technical fall over Kenai Central’s Daniel Steffensen. Steffensen has a state title at Division II, while Dickinson — undefeated this season — is searching for his first Division I title.

Coach Dickinson also liked Rowan Peck getting a 7-4 decision over Braylynn Young at 132 girls.

“We knew it was going to be a tough match, so we wanted that,” Dickinson said. “We bumped her up to the weight just for that, and she wrestled good.”

The Stars were able to knock off another Division II state champ when Carson Cobb pinned Nikiski’s Jaxson Young at 135.

Soldotna will now go to the Perry Burlison Invitational in Oregon on Friday and Saturday.

Michael Dickinson, Jacob Strausbaugh, Titus Watts and Sam Henry go into the tournament undefeated.

“It’s an opener tournament,” coach Dickinson said. “The top three teams in the state of Oregon will be there, so we need to wrestle all of them.

“We’re looking for competition, and I think we’re going to find it.”

The Stars then have the Northern Lights Conference tournament in Palmer on Dec. 13 and 14.

The girls are the defending conference champs, while the boys will be looking to get back on top after winning two years ago.

Dickinson said the challenge for the girls and boys will be the depth of Colony.

Then it’s on to state Dec. 20 and 21, where Dickinson would like to get 14 Soldotna wrestlers in the finals, and see plenty more peninsula athletes wrestling for it all.

“I’m kind of proud of the whole peninsula,” he said. “They’re really coming along and it’s exciting.”

While SoHi is going all the way to Oregon to find competition the week before the conference tournament, Nikiski will take a conservative approach and stay home this weekend.

Bulldogs coach Kaden Spurgeon said it’s a way to make sure the team is as rested and healthy as possible. The Kachemak Conference tourney is Dec. 13 and 14 in Seward.

The coach said getting in the duals Tuesday was valuable.

“We probably could have wrestled better,” he said. “We’ve got things to work on this week.

“We’ve got to get better on the bottom. We also have to work nonstop motion, even when our shots are not there.”

Spurgeon did say that wrestling Soldotna exposes a lot of holes.

“I really appreciated how our kids went out and battled, even if they were going against a state champ” he said. “It’s something to be said. It means a lot.

“But we’ve got some work to do.”

Spurgeon said a highlight was the way Spencer Peterkin battled Soldotna’s Sam Fredrickson at 130 before getting pinned.

“He was down big at 130 and this is his first year wrestling,” Spurgeon said. “He has this tenacity in him that might take a little out of the match in the sense of being able to hear me.

“But he’s in it full, go, go, go. Doesn’t matter the score.”

Spurgeon also said Wittmer’s match against McNeel was important experience because the match was decided on two big moves, and that’s exactly what Wittmer must avoid at conference and state.

Kenai Central will wrestle at the Grace Grizzly Shakedown on Friday and Saturday to prep for conference and state.

Kardinals head coach Jason Chavarria said he hopes it is the right move, because his squad continues to struggle with getting everybody healthy.

“That’s been the hard part,” Chavarria said.

A highlight was Gunnar Stanley pulling out a 19-13 decision over Nikiski’s Wyatt Maguire at 145 despite a cough that made it hard for Stanley to get air.

Chavarria also said he still feels great about Steffensen in the Division II state tournament despite the loss to Dickinson.

“Michael’s got goals, and he’s going for those goals, right?” Chavarria said. “And it’s not here. His goals are national.”

The coach said he’s proud of what his seniors have accomplished.

Yeoman has stuck with the program for four years despite an elbow injury that continues to be a problem.

Chavarria said Johnson is a great athlete that the coach wishes would have wrestled for more than two seasons.

Petla transferred into Kenai this season. Chavarria said Petla has a lot of strength and elusiveness and has been very coachable.

Manager Juniper Porter took jiu-jitsu from Chavarria when she was a kid and wrestled against Chavarria’s son, Issac, when the two were in middle school. She wanted something to do in the early winter, so she became the manager.

Roney is in his second season. Chavarria said Roney is learning to control his emotions and lose with grace in wrestling. He’s also learning how to show up and work hard.

Chavarria said Byrd would have been a state placer this season. Byrd injured his neck during football, aggravated the injury during wrestling, and is out for the season. Chavarria said Byrd still shows up to support the team.

Finally, Chavarria said Ruark is in his third season wrestling and has overcome a lot of obstacles to succeed on the mat. Chavarria said Ruark is taking the character he learned in wrestling and applying it to life.

Chavarria thanked DeeAnn Steffensen for putting the program together to honor the seniors.

Tuesday

Soldotna 118, Kenai 15

189 — Anthony Payne, Sol, p. Thaddeus Lingenfelter, 1:05; 215 — Rodney McNeel, Sol, tf Brandon Blake, 5:31; 285 — Cecil Newcomb-Hammer, Ken, p. Calvin Lyman, 0:28; 100G — Naomi Keller, Sol, won by forfeit; 107G — Chevelle Lamb, Sol, won by forfeit; 114G — Valarie McAnelly, Sol, won by forfeit; 120G — Riley Epling, Sol, won by forfeit; 126G — Mia Hannevold, Sol, p. Jadeyn Jacko, 0:42; 132G — Rowan Peck, Sol, won by forfeit; 138G — Rylee Trent, Ken, dec. Abigail Miller, 10-3; 145G — Carrisa Heitstuman, Sol, won by forfeit; 152G — Bella Byrd, Sol, won by forfeit; 103 — Tanner Hough, Sol, won by forfeit; 112 — Cyrus Palcious, Sol, won by forfeit; 119 — Jaden Yeager, Sol, p. Chase Johnson, 3:11; 125 — Titus Watts, Sol, won by forfeit; 130 — Jace Gilliam, Sol, p. Kaiser DesOrmeaux, 4:23; 135 — Mason Bock, Sol, p. Tattum Gutierrez, 1:50; 140 — Carson Cobb, Sol, won by forfeit; 145 — Conner Cook, Ken, p. Harold Rudstrom, 0:47; 152 — Michael Dickinson, Sol, tf Daniel Steffensen, 5:44; 160 — Ryatt Weed, Sol, p. Brayden Abeyta, 1:39; 171 — Trevor Michael, Sol, p. Atlas Ruark, 2:29.

Soldotna 115, Nikiski 11

215 — Rodney McNeel, Sol, dec. Rex Wittmer, 14-7; 285 — Breaker Schmit, Nik, p. Blake Cecil, 3:08; 100G — Naomi Keller, Sol, won by forfeit; 107G — Chevelle Lamb, Sol, won by forfeit; 114G — Valarie McAnelly, Sol, won by forfeit; 120G — Riley Epling, Sol, won by forfeit; 126G — Mia Hannevold, Sol, p. Jade Hemphill, 0:55; 132G — Rowan Peck, Sol, dec. Braylynn Young, 7-4; 138G — Abigail Miller, Sol, won by forfeit; 145G — Carrisa Heistuman, Sol, p. Addison Perkins, 2:46; 165G — Bella Byrd, Sol, p. Elliana Isabell, 1:30; 103 — Tanner Hough, Sol, won by forfeit; 112 — Aaron Granados, Sol, won by forfeit; 119 — Jaden Yeager, Sol, tf Michael Fowler, 3:33; 125 — Titus Watts, Sol, won by forfeit; 130 — Sam Fredrickson, Sol, p. Spencer Peterkin, 5:25; 135 — Carson Cobb, Sol, p. Jaxson Young, 3:44; 140 — Mason Bock, Sol, p. Darren Powell, 5:01; 145 — Wyatt Maguire, Nik, tf Harold Rudstrom, 3:26; 152 — Jackson Anding, Sol, tf Sloan Wittmer, 3:26; 160 — Trevor Michael, Sol, p. Conner Ley, 1:45; 171 — Anthony Payne, Sol, dec. Mason Doth, 10-3; 189 — Riley Vacek, Sol, won by forfeit.

Nikiski 53, Kenai 39

285 — Breaker Schmit, Nik, p. Lochlyn Roney, 2:24; 126G — Jade Hemphill, Nik, p. Jadeyn Jacko, 2:35; 132G — Braylynn Young, Nik, won by forfeit; 138G — Addison Perkins, Nik, p. Rylee Trent, 1:13; 165G — Elliana Isabell, Nik, won by forfeit; 112 — Aiden Quiner, Nik, won by forfeit; 119 — Chase Johnson, Ken, p. Michael Fowler, 3:08; 130 — Kaiser DesOrmeaux, Ken, p. Spencer Peterkin, 1:10; 135 — Jaxson Young, Nik, tf Tattum Gutierrez, 1:56; 140 — Darren Powell, Nik, won by forfeit; 145 — Gunnar Stanley, Ken, dec. Wyatt Maguire, 19-13; 152 — Conner Cook, Ken, p. Sloan Wittmer, 0:31; 160 — Daniel Steffensen, Ken, p. Brody Nelson, 1:25; 171 — Mason Doth, Nik, p. Robert Lawson, 4:37; 189 — Jason Johnson, Ken, won by forfeit; 215 — Aiden Petla, Ken, won by default over Rex Wittmer.

Kenai Central’s Jadeyn Jacko and Soldotna’s Mia Hannevold wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Michael Fowler and Kenai Central’s Chase Johnson wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Wyatt Maguire and Kenai Central’s Gunnar Stanley wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Spencer Peterkin and Soldotna’s Sam Fredrickson wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Rex Wittmer and Kenai Central’s Aiden Petla wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Darren Powell and Soldotna’s Mason Bock wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Atlas Ruark and Soldotna’s Trevor Michael wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Rylee Trent wrestles with Soldotna’s Abigail Miller on Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Rex Wittmer and Soldotna’s Rodney McNeel wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Nikiski’s Braylynn Young and Soldotna’s Rowan Peck wrestle Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)