Two-time defending state champ Pommerenke commits to CMU
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
The decision has been made ? and it?s a lot more uplifting than the one on page one. Devin Pommerenke is going to wrestle for Central Michigan University in 2011-12. Pommerenke, who has won two state and national titles, and was the No. 4 ranked recruit from Michigan?s junior class, has verbally committed to join coach Tom Borelli?s well-respected program in Mt. Pleasant.
The Chippewas won the MAC championship last season. ?Central is the best program in the state,? said Pommerenke. ?They haven?t been touched by any interstate squad in 10 years. Central has had a lot of success already.? That continues the pipeline from RCHS, as Andy Keller, the Huron wrestling program?s first-ever state title-winner wrestled for the Chips, as did two-time champ Dylan Centala.
?I DIDN?T REALLY explore too much outside of the state, because I really didn?t have any interest in being too far from home,? said Pommerenke. ?Wrestling on the Michigan travel teams, I get to know what is out there. I didn?t like the attitude out on the east coast and some of the other states. It?s just not me, it?s not Rogers City wrestling.? Another determining factor was Ryan ?B
In 2007, Gritter made it to the NCAA semifinal match as a heavyweight. He ended up placing fifth. This weekend, the big-fella will be competing in the East Coast National Duals in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Freshman Evan Lamb, who placed sixth at the state finals in March, will be accompanying Pommerenke and will compete at 128 pounds. A week from today, Devin will be heading out to Fresno, California for the NUWAY Americas Cup, June 4 and 5.
Pommerenke hasn?t lost on a high school mat since he was a freshman. He has the RCHS school record with 118 consecutive wins, a number that no doubt will be growing next winter. He will likely red shirt as a freshman.