Croft pins five as M’s beat Valdez, Grace Christian

• Wrestlers return home Friday to grapple with Cordova

by Aaron Selbig
Homer Tribune
Facing top competition from more than 25 schools across Alaska, the Homer Mariner wrestling team held their own at last weekend’s North South Tournament in the Mat-Su Valley, scoring 31 points on their way to a 15th-place team finish.
On Friday, it was big, bad Larry Croft (215 lb.) paving the way for the Mariners. Croft, a junior, pinned five of his opponents to help the team defeat Valdez in a dual match, 40-20.
Against Grace Christian in their second dual, Homer squeaked out a 39-36 victory – their second against the Grizzlies in three tries – despite losses from Eli Garvey (103) and team captain “Hurricane” Mitch Wyatt (160), who took on two No.1-ranked wrestlers in Keifer Groenvel and Justin Allen.
A subsequent 30-54 loss to West Valley, as well as a very close 31-33 loss to Eagle River, sent the M’s into Saturday’s competition with a 2-2 split in duals.
On Saturday, Wyatt found himself in a consolation bracket rematch with Allen. Leading 2-0 after two periods, Wyatt ran into trouble.
“(Wyatt) rode Allen tough and wore him down,” said Homer Head Coach Chris Perk. “He needed only to maintain a solid stance … (but) was tied up by Allen with about 30 seconds left and (was) thrown to his back in a tight head and arm hold.”
The loss was Wyatt’s fifth of the season. However, the junior still leads his team with 19 wins.
Wyatt led all Homer wrestlers with a fifth-place finish in his division, followed closely by Croft at sixth place, and Ben Harville (285), who placed eighth after suffering a 2-4 overtime loss to Nikiski’s Henry Eide.
The road-weary Mariners will return to the friendly confines of Alice Witte Gymnasium this week, facing off against Cordova in a dual meet at 6 p.m. Friday and hosting the eight-team Round Robin Rumble beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.

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