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Bethel Wrestlers Compete In 2017 West Regional Championships

Thomas Dyment, a Bethel junior, earned his third state title in the 106 pound weight class at the 2016 1-2-3A State Wrestling Championships. In July, he and sophomore Hayden Lieb are heading to the National Championships in North Dakota.
Ana Hoffman

Seven Bethel wrestlers traveled to Idaho last week to compete in the 2017 West Regional Championships.

Bethel middle school students Landon Smith and Joseph Smith helped Alaska clinch second place in dual folkstyle. Meanwhile, the Bethel high schoolers helped the state team earn third in freestyle and fifth in Greco-Roman. Five Bethel high school students competed: Thomas Dyment, Seth Smith, Sven Williams, Mian Alexie-Leonard, and Hayden Lieb. In all, 11 states competed in the regional tournament, with many bringing multiple teams.

This weekend ended the summer's competition for all but two Bethel wrestlers. In mid-July, Thomas Dyment and Hayden Lieb will travel to North Dakota to compete in the 2017 Freestyle & Greco-Roman National Championship tournament. The tournament is a big opportunity for the stand-out athletes. Wrestlers can earn All-American titles, and Coach Darren Lieb says that many college coaches will be attending to watch for potential college scholarship recipients.

Dyment and Lieb are fundraising to get themselves to the national competition. The two wrestlers will be holding a car wash in front of City Hall this Saturday, July 1.

Anna Rose MacArthur served as KYUK's News Director from 2015-2022.