Three Cub wrestlers compete at State championships

One week after the CIF State Wrestling Championships concluded, three young Anderson Cub grapplers were still competing for a big prize of their own: the California State Frosh/Soph Wrestling Championships. Open to only high school freshmen and sophomores, this State event is bigger than the CIF State. In some weight classes, over 100 wrestlers battled in the 2-day event.

Anderson had three sophomores travel to the Selland Arena in Fresno to test and hone their skills: Harry (Bud) Johns (103), Alek Miller (119), and Spencer Larsen (135). All three wrestlers competed on the varsity team this season and qualified for the Masters Championships two weeks ago. Larsen placed 6th.

After losing his first match, Bud Johns came back with three strong wins in the consolation bracket, before he was eliminated in the fifth round of the tournament. He was leading 8-1 late in the second round before a mistake cost him the match.

"I'm glad I came," asserted Johns after the match. "This helps me know what I need to work on for next year." He later made a pack with his teammates to hit the weight room hard.

Looking ahead from last year, Alek Miller never could have seen himself competing at the State tournament, let alone starting on the varsity team. As a freshman Miller was a first-year junior varsity wrestler. This year he not only qualified for the varsity Masters Tournament, but he made it to the second day of competition. At the State tournament, Miller went 1-2 with a pin and two very close loses.

The veteran of the trio, Spenser Larsen, who earned his second varsity letter this year, was competing in his second Frosh/Soph State meet. Placing at the Masters Tournament in February gave him the confidence to go to Fresno and win a lot of matches.

Unfortunately for Larsen, the State meet is not seeded, so you never know when you'll run into the tougher competition. In his first match he battled close for most of three rounds, but lost to an eventual State medallist. A bye and three very solid wins later, Larson had qualified for the second day.

In his opening match on the second day, Larsen started out the first round with a takedown and 2-point near fall. It looked like he was going to easily handle his seventh round opponent. Unfortunately, his very strong and determined opponent still had something to say, and the score stood 8-8 entering the third round. Larsen lost the match in the third round, and his State medal dreams slipped away.

"3-2 isn't what I expected this year!" Larsen remarked after the match. "I could have done better."

Whether that is the case or not, according the Cubs' coach Don Williams, it was a very valuable experience for the wrestlers and for him as well.

"I got a good look at what we need to work on for next year," said Williams. "Now we just need to take it back to the practice room."

The Anderson wrestlers will be back in the room starting this week when the freestyle wrestling club begins practices every Tuesday and Thursday from 5:30-7:00 PM. through April.