It was a strong two days for Wrangell High School wrestlers at the Mountain City Classic in Anchorage, with the Wolves taking first among small schools and third overall at the tournament.

Wrangell was a thin 3½ points behind the first-place team, said coach Jack Carney.

“We’re well within range of our bid for another state title,” he said. The boys team won the state title last year — a first for the wrestlers and just the sixth state title in the history of Wrangell High School across all sports.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do as far as conditioning and technicals, but I’m excited for what the rest of the season brings,” Carney said.

More than 50 schools sent teams to the Mountain City Christian Academy tournament Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30-31, with more than 70 teams total when you count the girls squads, he said. “This is the biggest in the state.”

Wrangell wrestlers scored 35 wins and 16 losses on the weekend. Of those wins, 25 were by pins, Carney said.

The Wolves placed seven wrestlers in the top five in their weight class.

Senior Jackson Carney took home a first-place finish in the 152-pound weight class and was voted Outstanding Wrestler by the coaches.

Junior Kourtney Barnes took second place in her 126-pound weight class.

Lucas Stearns and Curtis Harriger both came in third in their weight class. Everett Meissner scored a fourth-place finish. Ryder Ritchie and Cooper Powers both came in fifth.

Freshmen Michael Barnes Jr. and Tommy Rohr-Wickman “were one match away from placing,” their coach said.

A dozen wrestlers, less than the full squads, made the trip to Anchorage, Carney said. 

“This was a self-paid trip,” he explained, adding that the school district limits the number of out-of-town trips it will cover, leaving it to families and the team to raise money to pay for additional travel. Of the seven wrestlers who did not go to Anchorage, three were busy at a swim meet in Juneau.

The Anchorage tournament was just the second full meet of the season for the wrestlers, who will head to the Bill Weiss Tournament in Ketchikan on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7. The next stop will be Nov. 13-14 in Palmer, followed by Nov. 20-21 in Petersburg.

“It’s going to be a grind” until Thanksgiving break, Carney said. “Hopefully, we peak at the right time.”

The last meet of the regional season will be Dec. 4-5 in Sitka, followed by Southeast regionals in Wrangell on Dec. 11-12.