Three young Hurons compete in finals. Pommerenke places third.
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
Caleb Pommerenke, Jacob Sobeck and Quintin Kelly traveled to the Michigan Youth Wrestling Association (MYWA) state finals over the weekend on the campus of Michigan State University at Jenison Fieldhouse.
Pommerenke, an eighth-grader at Rogers City Middle School, proved he isn?t just the younger brother of state champion Devin Pommerenke but a champion himself. He was 3-0 on Saturday setting himself up in the top eight and a shot at a state title.
In the semifinals Pommerenke would square off with Cortes Smith of Alma, a young man who had beaten him at the regional competition held on March 22. Pommerenke would avenge the loss winning 14-13 to earn a spot in the finals.
Pommerenke would lose to Garret Stehley of Lowell in the finals match and would also lose a match for true second to Mitchell Tyler of Roscommon to place third in the 22-man bracket.
?Caleb did very well. I think he learned a lot this weekend. He learned that if you go out there and wrestle every second of the match good things will happen. He learned the importance of giving himself the opportunity to come from down to win a match,? said
Coach Lamb was proud of the young man?s efforts, especially avenging the regional loss in a great match where he would score a late near fall to win 14-13. Jacob Sobeck, a sixth-grader at St. Ignatius Catholic School, went 2-2 on Saturday to narrowly miss qualifying for Sunday?s wrestling and a chance to finish in the top eight in the state.
?Jake wrestled really well but just couldn?t catch a break. A couple controversial calls occurred in his two losses. I think if Jake wrestled that same competition on a different day the results could have been different.,? said coach Lamb.
Quintin Kelly, a fifth-grade student at Rogers City Elementary School was 0-2 on the weekend. ?Quintin wrestled well and gained valuable experience,? said coach Lamb.