Last weekend, the Unalaska Raider Wrestling team competed in the Alaska School Activities Association (ASAA) State Wrestling Tournament. Unalaska brought 9 wrestlers who qualified the week before at the regional tournament in Bethel. Unalaska got 8th place at state, narrowly edging out Mt. Edgecumbe School in Sitka.
Here are the state wrestler’s weight classes, names and records for the season, not including state:
113 Jeppesen, Curtis 10-7
120 Esnardo, John 12-6
126 Henning, Blaine 15-5
132 Ruckman, Dustin 14-5
138 Esnardo Jr., Alexander 10-5
145 Shaishnikoff, Landen 3-3
170 Garcia, Chris 9-6
182 Shaishnikoff, Talon 7-6
195 Henning, Seth 11-7
220 Parker, Quinnton 6-5
220 Khongsuk, Johnny 2-4
285 Faoasau, Mathew 9-4
At state, Dustin Ruckman was the team’s highest placed finisher taking third in the 132 pound weight class. Seth Henning was fourth in the 195-pound weight class. Talon Shaishnikoff nabbed fifth in the 182-pound weight class, and Matt Faoasau placed sixth in the 285-pound weight class.
Senior Co-Captain Johnny Khongsuk when asked what it meant to be a senior wrestler, he said that, “It’s important to be a good example for the younger wrestlers and pump them up.” On their state tournament he said, “I thought our team’s performance was really good. I mean we got four people to place.”
Great job Raider wrestlers!