The Galena Hawks wrestling team started their season with three first-place wins at the Nome Invitational tournament on Oct. 23-24.

Senior Anthony Sam from Galena came in first place in the 220-pound weight class. He won all three of his rounds.

Jerry Jones, a sophomore from Noatak wrestling in the 126-pound weight class, won all five of his round. Tristen Cook, a senior from Kake, came in first after a tough seven rounds in the 145-pound weight class.

The wrestling season started on Sept. 27. Forty-seven students showed up the first day, said coach Ben Blasco.

“I expect everybody to do really well,” he said. “Wrestling is a sport that if you exercise really well, you will be successful.”

One week before the Nome tournament, two Galena wrestlers went to Houston to take part in the competition there. Joe Apfelbeck, a Galena senior, wrestled in the 132-pound weight class, and Reese Levi, a senior from Wasilla, wrestled in the 220-pound class. Both wrestlers earned 2-2 records in Houston.

Coach Blasco said he’s looking forward to a great season.

“We have a lot of talented athletes. I am very optimistic that we will repeat as regional champions and qualify several athletes to state,” he said.

The results from the other Galena athletes at the Nome Invitational are:

Laura Nick – 2nd place, one win in two rounds
Wesley Yeager – 2nd place, six wins out of seven rounds
Joe Apfelbeck – 3rd place, four wins in five rounds
Cacey Chikigak – 3rd place, three wins in five rounds
Carolyn Sam – 3rd place, three wins in five rounds
Trevor Saunders – 4th place
Kateri Beans – 4th place
Derrick Holmberg – 4th place
Austin Hetherington – 5th place
Reese Levi – 5th place
Dylan Lorenz – 8th place
Shea Orr – 9th place
Marvin Sheldon – 9th place
Reed Levi – 10th place