Sydnee Kimber of Sitka was named Alaska Athlete of the Week after winning an Alaskan women’s record fourth collegiate national wrestling title.
The McKendree University senior used a headlock takedown in the final 30 seconds the title match to pin Traeh Haynes of North Central and win the 191-pound weight class at the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships.
With the win, Kimber finished the season 28-1 and avenged a loss to Haynes in February that snapped her 69-match winning streak.
Kimber’s earlier loss to Haynes wasn’t just her first loss in three years, but it was the first time anybody had scored a point against the Alaskan in two years.
Kimber finished her Bearcats career with a 103-5 record; that after going 90-0 in high school.
In 2017, Kimber became Alaska’s first four-time state champion in girls wrestling.
The Alaska Athlete of the Week is selected by a panel each Monday.
Have a candidate in mind? Email us your nomination: info@alaskasportshall.org.
Also receiving votes: UAF Nanooks Rifle Team, Vanessa Aniteye, Joe Davies, Max Helgeson
Photo courtesy Pat Knapinski