Swimming
Valdez Buccaneer Swimming
Region 6 Championship Swim Meet
Courtesy of Coach Carl Young – Along with secret Santa’s and on deck dance parties the Valdez Buccaneer Swim Team had an incredible Region Swim Meet with many successes!
The Women’s 200 Medley, 200 Free, & 400 Free Relay Teams cleaned house bringing in a total of 12 medals by placing 3rd across the board! This is also the first year that the Buccaneer swim team had every participating swimmer make finals. Not only did everyone make finals they did so in all events and all swam Personal Best Times which will all be considered for state placement. With such great performances every region swimming Buccaneer has earned their Varsity Letter in Swimming!
Congratulations to:
Ava O’Brien
Rhain Osburn
Ginger Keller
Sophia Hodgkins
Liam Roosma
Levi Club
and Kali Petersen
Three Buccaneer swimmers are already guaranteed their ticket to the State Competition in Anchorage this coming weekend! Freshman Kinsey Mishmash, one of three individual medalists, took 3rd in her 100 Breastroke securing her spot at state with a time of 1:14.09. Billi Lovell had an
incredible region meet Placing 2nd in her 100 Freestyle with a time of 56.98 & 4th in her 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:02.76. Billi qualified for state comfortably in both her events. Fisher Mishmash by far had the best Region Meet! Fisher Mishmash took 3rd in his 100 Freestyle with a time of 52.33 qualifying for State. He also obliterated his 50 Freestyle by Placing 2nd, Qualifying for state, and Breaking the School Record with a time of 22.72! Huge Congratulations to our State Qualifiers!
I am very proud of our Swimming Buccaneers. It is obvious that their hard work and dedication to their sport paid off! Please give them all the pats on the backs they deserve and I look forward to the next season of swimming!
Thank You,
Coach Carl Young
See State Championship Schedule
Varsity Volleyball
VHS Volleyball Seniors and their Moms, Photo courtesy of Joe Prax
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – This weekend, the volleyball team had their last home games of the season against the Eielson Ravens. They played their final conference games of the season to secure 1st seed going into regionals next weekend. They ended the regular season with a record of 30-11-3 (8-0 in the Aurora Conference).
On Friday, the girls celebrated senior night and a 3-0 win: 25-11, 25-19, and 25-19. All four seniors (Aly Metzger, Ambrosia Woodgate, Alyvia Askren-Weber, and Lucy Selanoff) played great along with the rest of the team.
On Saturday, the girls came out strong again and won 3-0: 25-9, 25-20, and 25-23. The girls were able to work out some new plays and see what we need to focus on this upcoming week before regionals.
See the 2021 Aurora volleyball bracket seeded
Lucy Selanoff passes during VHS Volleyball Game, Photo by Joe Prax
Ambrosia Woodgate tips it over the net, VHS Volleyball Oct 2021, Photo by Joe Prax
Aly Metzger tips it over the net, Photo by Joe Prax
Alyvia Askren Weber hitting the ball, Photo by Joe Prax
J.V. Volleyball
Oct. 29-30
Bella Smelcer goes for a ball, Photo Courtesy of Joe Prax
Valdez vs. Eielson Ravens
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – The Valdez Buccaneer Junior Varsity Team battled back and forth with the Eielson Ravens in their final matches of the season.
Friday evening kicked off with a 5 set match against the Ravens. The Ravens took an early lead, winning the first set 17-25. The Bucs rose to the challenge, winning the next two sets 25-15 and 25-18. The Bucs started out with the lead in the 4th set, but the Ravens pushed their way back into the lead with a final score of 20-25. The Bucs lost their stride in the 5th set. Lack of communication and service errors by the Bucs gave the Ravens the final set victory at 4-15. Marcedes Taylor was a lead server for the match with 21 serves, and also a huge contribution to the team as our sole setter. Bella Smelcer also was a high server for the night with 19 serves, and led the team with 5 kills. Aside from the last set, this match was exciting to watch and the girls played very well overall.
On Saturday the Ravens and Bucs were nose to nose again. The Bucs came out strong winning the first two sets (25-18 and 25-20). The third set of the match was a nail-biter, going into overtime. The Bucs lost 26-28 on a long, exciting rally. Unfortunately this was just the momentum the Ravens needed to come back and finish the match, winning the next two sets (22-25 and 12-15). Taylor and Smelcer continued to be high servers in this match, but the top server for the day was Jaimie Crisp with 29 serves against the Ravens. Smelcer, Denali Woods, and Rachel Berkley were all aggressive at the net. Berkeley had 18 attacks with 3 kills, and was a huge defensive threat as a blocker against Eielson’s middle hitter. Woods 11 attacks with 7 kills. Smelcer had the most kills and attacks of the game with 9 kills and 13 additional attacks.
Overall, both matches were exciting games to watch with players highlighting huge personal
growth in their volleyball skills from the beginning of the season. It was exciting to have every player on the team contribute as servers in the game, which we could not do at the start of the season. Also, we started to incorporate our back row attack effectively in these matches against Eielson. Smelcer, Caelyn Wise, Bailie Wenner, and Sydney Cronk all presented strong back row attacks this past weekend.
This team has grown in leaps and bounds from the start of the season in their ball handling, game IQ, and ability to set up organized attacks and out-of-system plays. Excellent end to a season.
When you encounter these players, please congratulate them on a great season.
Marcedes Taylor (captain), Belle Smelcer (captain), Caelyn Wise, Denali Woods, Jaimie Crisp, Christina Wise, Rachel Berkley, Bailie Wenner, Sydney Cronk.
ESports
ESports update and rankings
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – This week, all 3 E-Sports teams collected wins due to forfeits by opposing schools.
With 3 weeks left to go in the regular season, our rankings are as follows:
Isaiah Gamon is currently #2 out of 40 in the Pacific Madden21 league; Izzy, Ryker and Wyatt make up the #13 ranked Rocket League team out of 45;
Larry, Ethan and Tashaun have the #3 ranked Smash Ultimate team out of 25.
Wrestling
Wrestling @ West Valley
Courtesy of VHS Coaches – Buccaneer wrestling returned to the mat this weekend at the West Valley Dustin Baxter Memorial Tournament. Leading the way for the Bucs were seniors Wyatt Williams and Rylee Christensen, and Junior Gabe Brewi, all placing 2nd, and freshman Romen Weber and AJ Tudelo both placing 3rd. This weekend each wrestler got some quality mat time, wrestling at least 4 matches, with some of the guys competing 10 times over the course of two days. See below for results.
Boys 119
Landon Metzger’s place is 5th and has scored 0.0 team points.
Round 1 – Noah Rockhold (Eielson High School) won by fall over Landon Metzger
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:47)
Round 2 – Riley Williams (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Landon Metzger (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:36)
Round 4 – Chance Halverson (SWDP) won by fall over Landon Metzger (Valdez High
School) (Fall 1:20)
Round 5 – Aiden Klein (Delta High School) won by fall over Landon Metzger (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:56)
Boys 140
Warren Bloodss place is 4th and has scored 4.0 team points.
Round 1 – Dylan Herkstroeter (SWDP) won by fall over Warren Blood (Valdez High
School) (Fall 1:14)
Round 2 – Jayden Stone (Glenallen High School) won by fall over Warren Blood (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:21)
Round 3 – Colton Parduhn (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Warren Blood (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:44)
Boys 145
Dalen Beck’s place is 2nd and has scored 14.0 team points.
Round 1 – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sebastian Moore (North
Pole Patriots) (Fall 3:44)
Round 2 – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) won by fall over Larry Olson (Hutchison
High School) (Fall 5:16)
Round 3 – Aaron Johnson (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Dalen Beck (Valdez High
School) (Fall 2:41)
Boys 152
Kai Montgomery’s place is 4th and has scored 11.0 team points.
Round 1 – Alex Buck (Glenallen High School) won by tech fall over Kai Montgomery
(Valdez High School) (TF 20-4)
Round 2 – Kai Montgomery (Valdez High School) won by fall over Rylan Hughes
(Eielson High School) (Fall 1:55)
Round 3 – Joshua Powell (Lathrop Wrestling) won by major decision over Kai
Montgomery (Valdez High School) (Maj 13-3)
Round 4 – Jacob Johnson (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Kai Montgomery (Valdez
High School) (Fall 2:36)
Round 5 – Kai Montgomery (Valdez High School) won by fall over Daniel Buzby
(Hutchison High School) (Fall 1:11)
Boys 160
Romen Weber’s place is 2nd and has scored 14.0 team points.
Round 1 – Destin Kohler (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Romen Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:44)
Round 2 – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sam Euristi (North Pole
Patriots) (Fall 2:59)
Round 3 – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Emanuel Kelso
(Glenallen High School) (Fall 0:26)
Boys 171
Mckennan Mayer’s place is 2nd and has scored 20.0 team points.
Round 1 – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) won by fall over Saer Whipple (North
Pole Patriots) (Fall 1:21)
Round 2 – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) won by fall over Ethan Vollema
(Glenallen High School) (Fall 1:28)
Round 3 – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) won by fall over Joseph Sword
(Hutchison High School) (Fall 1:41)
Round 4 – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) won by fall over Brooks Rayburn
(Lathrop Wrestling) (Fall 1:28)
Round 5 – Via Skipps (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Mckennan Mayer (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:54)
Boys 215
Angelo Tudelo’s place is 2nd and has scored 14.0 team points.
Round 1 – Logan Sackinger (West Valley Wolfpack) won by fall over Angelo Tudelo
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:03)
Round 2 – Angelo Tudelo (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sam Lentz (West
Valley Wolfpack) (Fall 0:29)
Round 3 – Angelo Tudelo (Valdez High School) won by fall over Jonathan Patterson
(Eielson High School) (Fall 0:23)
Boys 285
Gabe Brewi’s place is 3rd and has scored 0.0 team points.
Round 2 – Noah Curtis (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Gabe Brewi (Valdez High
School) (Fall 0:28)
Round 3 – Logan Pinard (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Gabe Brewi (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:39)
Girls 189G
Rylee Christensen’s place is 2nd and has scored 0.0 team points.
Round 1 – Lydia Patterson (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Rylee Christensen
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:28)
Round 2 – Lydia Patterson (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Rylee Christensen
(Valdez High School) (Fall 2:42)
Pool 2 119
Wyatt Williams’s place is 1st and has scored 17.0 team points.
Round 1 – Wyatt Williams (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Wesley
Niegel (SWDP) (Maj 10-0)
Round 3 – Wyatt Williams (Valdez High School) won by medical forfeit over Kyler
Matteson (Eielson High School) (MFF)
Round 4 – Wyatt Williams (Valdez High School) won by fall over Hayden McCumby
(North Pole Patriots) (Fall 3:06)
Round 5 – Wyatt Williams (Valdez High School) won by fall over Jake Stockhausen
(Glenallen High School) (Fall 2:52)
Pool 2 125
Justin Trammel’s place is 6th and has scored 3.0 team points.
Round 1 – Zak Lomax (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Justin Trammel (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:04)
Round 2 – Devon Stolz (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Justin Trammel (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:21)
Round 3 – Patrick Attungana (Delta High School) won by fall over Justin Trammel
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:29)
Round 4 – Jace Zaldivar (Eielson High School) won by fall over Justin Trammel (Valdez
High School) (Fall 3:46)
Round 5 – Kodi Hollis (SWDP) won by fall over Justin Trammel (Valdez High School)
(Fall 0:40)
Pool 2 135
Eli Critchlow’s place is 5th and has scored 0.0 team points.
Round 1 – Zadock Hawkins (West Valley Wolfpack) won by fall over Eli Critchlow
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:18)
Round 3 – Wesley Henry (Eielson High School) won by fall over Eli Critchlow (Valdez
High School) (Fall 3:20)
Round 4 – Aaron Peterson (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Eli Critchlow (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:02)
Round 5 – Gavin Kohler (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Eli Critchlow (Valdez
High School) (Fall 2:38)
Pool 2 171
Ethan Weber’s place is 6th and has scored 3.0 team points.
Round 1 – Tyler Clooten (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:10)
Round 2 – Nathan Vargason (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:44)
Round 3 – Josh Sutton (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez High
School) (Fall 0:12)
Round 4 – Donovan Koba (Delta High School) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:09)
Round 5 – Michael David (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Ethan Weber
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:44)
Boys Red 125
Justin Trammel’s place is 5th and has scored 2.0 team points.
Round 1 – Devon Barnes (Eielson High School) won by fall over Justin Trammel (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:00)
Round 2 – Matthew Lawhome (Delta High School) won by fall over Justin Trammel
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:34)
Round 3 – Jace Zaldivar (Eielson High School) won by tech fall over Justin Trammel
(Valdez High School) (TF 15-0)
Round 4 – Justin Trammel (Valdez High School) won by forfeit over Aiden Urban (North
Pole Patriots) (FF)
Boys Red 171
Ethan Weber’s place is 5th and has scored 0.0 team points.
Round 1 – Michael David (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Ethan Weber
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:34)
Round 2 – Saer Whipple (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:31)
Round 3 – Joseph Sword (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 4:37)
Round 4 – Nathan Vargason (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Ethan Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:22)
Boys Gold 119
Wyatt Williams’s place is 2nd and has scored 18.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Wyatt Williams (Valdez High School) won by fall over Aiden Klein (Delta
High School) (Fall 1:04)
Semifinal – Wyatt Williams (Valdez High School) won by fall over Wesley Niegel
(SWDP) (Fall 1:29)
1st Place Match – Riley Williams (Lathrop Wrestling) won by decision over Wyatt
Williams (Valdez High School) (Dec 5-2)
Boys Gold 119
Landon Metzger’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Noah Rockhold (Eielson High School) won by tech fall over Landon
Metzger (Valdez High School) (TF 18-2)
Cons. Round 1 – Hayden McCumby (North Pole Patriots) won by decision over Landon
Metzger (Valdez High School) (Dec 10-3)
Boys Gold 130
Eli Critchlow’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Zander Stossmeister (Delta High School) won by fall over Eli Critchlow
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:12)
Cons. Round 1 – Eli Critchlow (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
Cons. Semi – Titus Penwell (West Valley Wolfpack) won by fall over Eli Critchlow
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:30)
Boys Gold 140
Warren Blood’s place is unknown and has scored 0.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Jacob Connelley (West Valley Wolfpack) won by fall over Warren Blood
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:36)
Cons. Round 1 – Dylan Herkstroeter (SWDP) won by fall over Warren Blood (Valdez
High School) (Fall 2:03)
Boys Gold 145
Dalen Beck’s place is 4th and has scored 9.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Sebastian
Moore (North Pole Patriots) (Maj 20-9)
Semifinal – Aaron Johnson (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Dalen Beck (Valdez
High School) (Fall 2:57)
Cons. Semi – Dalen Beck (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Simon
Connolly (North Pole Patriots) (Maj 11-1)
3rd Place Match – Tommy Bourne (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Dalen Beck
(Valdez High School) (Fall 2:39)
Boys Gold 152
Kai Montgomery’s place is 4th and has scored 6.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Kai Montgomery (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Jacob Johnson (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Kai Montgomery
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:39)
Cons. Semi – Kai Montgomery (Valdez High School) won by major decision over Daniel
Buzby (Hutchison High School) (Maj 15-2)
3rd Place Match – Joshua Powell (Lathrop Wrestling) won by major decision over Kai
Montgomery (Valdez High School) (Maj 17-5)
Boys Gold 160
Romen Weber’s place is 3rd and has scored 16.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sam Euristi (North
Pole Patriots) (Fall 2:50)
Semifinal – Jimmy Runnels (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Romen Weber (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:21)
Cons. Semi – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Gabe Hoffman
(Glenallen High School) (Fall 2:30)
3rd Place Match – Romen Weber (Valdez High School) won by fall over Titus Villalobos
(West Valley Wolfpack) (Fall 2:27)
Boys Gold 171
Mckennan Mayer’s place is unknown and has scored 4.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Mckennan Mayer (Valdez High School) won by fall over Brooks Rayburn
(Lathrop Wrestling) (Fall 1:08)
Semifinal – Via Skipps (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Mckennan Mayer (Valdez
High School) (Fall 0:22)
Cons. Semi – Josh Sutton (North Pole Patriots) won by fall over Mckennan Mayer
(Valdez High School) (Fall 1:37)
Boys Gold 215
Angelo Tudelo’s place is 3rd and has scored 10.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Angelo Tudelo (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Jonathan Patterson (Eielson High School) won by fall over Angelo Tudelo
(Valdez High School) (Fall 3:44)
Cons. Semi – Angelo Tudelo (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
3rd Place Match – Angelo Tudelo (Valdez High School) won by fall over Sam Lentz
(West Valley Wolfpack) (Fall 0:19)
Boys Gold 285
Gabe Brewi’s place is 2nd and has scored 16.0 team points.
Quarterfinal – Gabe Brewi (Valdez High School) received a bye () (Bye)
Semifinal – Gabe Brewi (Valdez High School) won by fall over Logan Pinard (Hutchison
High School) (Fall 1:08)
1st Place Match – Noah Curtis (Lathrop Wrestling) won by fall over Gabe Brewi (Valdez
High School) (Fall 1:38)
Girls Gold 189G
Rylee Christensen’s place is 2nd and has scored 0.0 team points.
Round 1 – Lydia Patterson (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Rylee Christensen
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:51)
Round 2 – Lydia Patterson (Hutchison High School) won by fall over Rylee Christensen
(Valdez High School) (Fall 0:51)