Shorthanded Onaway wrestlers fall to the Soo, St. Igance

The Onaway High School wrestling team was a bit shorthanded Tuesday, sending only six athletes to face host St. Ignace and Sault St. Marie. One of those six was injured in his first match, leaving the Cardinals with just five.

OHS had to void nine weight divisions – and give up as many as 54 points – to its opponents. Needless to say, this made it virtually impossible to win either match. The Cards fell to the Blue Devils, 56-15, and to the Saints, 66-12.

Joe Traynham, wrestling at 119 pounds, was Onaway’s lone double winner, defeating Tyler Schumann of the Soo by pin and getting a victory by injury default over the Saints’ Dakota McLennan.

Issac Nave (pin, 112 pounds), Justin Gedda (7-6 decision, 160), and Frankie Ramos (forfeit, 215) each won one match on the evening, while senior Morgan Robins suffered a knee injury in his opening match, ending his night.

“Morgan will likely be out of competition for a while,” said coach Mark Grant. “My heart broke for him, as he’s been through injuries before, but he is a tough kid and my gut tells me that he will be back.

“Joe w

on both matches, though in the process he learned what he must work on. Isaac’s loss came midway through the third period in a 0-0 tie. He tried a move that can either win a match for you or lose it – a great learning experience.

“Gedda just always wrestles at full throttle. His win in the match against the Soo was an absolute emotional rollarcoaster. Everybody is learning and getting better, and preparing for the coming January grind.”

The wrestling team is scheduled to compete Saturday at a tournament at Chippewa Hills and seven days later at a tourney at Ionia.