Sitka girl becomes 4th Alaska wrestler to win national title

Sydnee Kimber (left), Michaela Hutchison (middle), and McKenzie Cook pose outside the FargoDome in North Dakota at the Cadet/Junior National Championships in July. (Khristy Parker)

Sixteen-year-old Sydnee Kimber of Sitka was nervous when she entered the spacious FargoDome at the Cadet/Junior National Championships two weeks ago in North Dakota.

Twenty-four mats and the nation's best young wrestlers filled the arena. But Kimber was in good company — Alaska wrestling legend Michaela Hutchison was one of her coaches, urging her toward success.

Kimber didn't succomb to nerves. She won the 164-pound junior women's freestyle division to become what is believed to be the fourth Alaskan to win a national title in Fargo.

Kimber said Hutchison told her to take it one move and one match at a time as she advanced through the 164-pound junior women's freestyle bracket.

In the finals, Kimber built a sizable lead over California's Dymond Guilford.

"I was telling myself, 'Don't mess up, keep wrestling, don't let her get the upper hand on you,' " Kimber said. " '… Fight it off, just finish off these last 20 seconds.' "

Sydnee Kimber of Sitka (left) holds down California’s Dymond Guilford in the 164-pound junior women’s freestyle division final at the Cadet/Junior National Championships on July 22 in Fargo, North Dakota. (Khristy Parker)

Kimber claimed a 10-4 win to become Alaska's first national champion in more than 10 years. Hutchison and her brother, Eli Hutchison, both won titles at the 2006 meet and Dallas Seavey became Alaska's first national champion in 2003.

Seavey went on to win four Iditarods, Eli Hutchison became a four-time high school wrestling champ (2002-06) and Michaela Hutchison earned fame in 2006 as the first girl in the nation to win a state high school championship while competing against boys.

"It's pretty nice having someone (like Michaela), especially from Alaska who's … traveled places, won and been on several teams," Kimber said. "… Just having that experience and having her there to help us get to where we need (to go) is amazing."

Kimber was among 23 Alaska wrestlers who competed at the national championships. McKenzie Cook of Homer claimed second place in the 144-pound cadet women's freestyle division, and Jeremy Bockert of Fairbanks made the quarterfinals of the 94-pound cadet Greco division.

Sydnee Kimber (left) of Sitka holds her 164-pound junior women’s freestyle division first-place trophy, while McKenzie Cook holds her runner-up trophy from the 144-pound cadet women’s freestyle division at the Cadet/Junior National Championships in July in Fargo, North Dakota. (Khristy Parker)

Kimber, a three-time Alaska high school champion who will soon begin her senior year at Mt. Edgecumbe, hopes to wrestle at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. Michaela Hutchison is a volunteer coach with the program and Hutchison's husband, Sam Schmitz, is an assistant coach.

Kimber's father, Mike, has coached Mt. Edgecumbe's successful girls wrestling program for 18 years and has coached his daughter since she was 5. He chose not to go to Fargo for the national championships because he wanted Sydnee and Michaela to build a relationship.

He watched the finals online and could barely contain himself.

"I can't say the words I said out loud for the newspaper," he said. "… But (I was) yelling at the computer and jumping up and down."

Kimber said she endured a black eye and sprained an ankle, an MCL and muscles in her back over the course of her four matches in Fargo. Yet she stands as a champion.

"It's definitely been tiresome," she said, "but well worth the pain."

Sydnee Kimber (left) celebrates her semifinal victory over Olivia Robinson in the 164-pound junior women’s freestyle division at the Cadet/Junior National Championships on July 22 in Fargo, North Dakota. (Khristy Parker)