Wrestlers go 3-2 at Benzie tournament

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

The Rogers City Hurons varsity wrestling team is now 17-10 after going 3-2 at the Benzie Central Duals over the weekend. The Hurons defeated Kingsley 48-27, Benzie Central 43-30 and Petoskey 39-36 before falling to Reed City 39-37 and Mt. Pleasant 60-22. 

“I thought we wrestled pretty well, however, I think we let some things slip away from us in the Reed City match. We were right there with them, I think we might have been able to pull off a couple more major decisions or wins that we didn’t get in that match. I think we wrestled hard, however, being shorthanded again we weren’t able to overcome,” said coach Pat Lamb. The Hurons had won the Benzie Central tournament the past two seasons over Mt. Pleasant. 

Three Hurons went undefeated on the day as sophomore Jacob Sobeck was 5-0 at 130 pounds, senior Evan Lamb was 5-0 at 135 and 140 pounds and senior Caleb Pommerenke was 5-0 at 189 pounds. 

Sobeck is now 31-3 on the season and 80-11 for his career as he looks to reach the 100-win plateau yet this season. Lamb is now 33-1 on the season and 187-26 for his career as he closes in on the 200-win mark. Pommerenke eclipsed the 100-win mark a few weeks ago and is now 30-4 on the season and 111-38 for his career.

“Jacob wrestled extremely well on the day to be undefeated. Evan wrestled really well in two different weight classes to go undefeated and Caleb had five pins, all in the first period to go undefeated,” said coach Lamb.

Sophomore Cameron Urban was 4-1 on the day to improve to 27-6 on the season. “Cameron wrestled extremely well against York Ash, a young m

an from Benzie who had beaten him earlier. We never like to get pinned, however, Cameron got pinned on what I call a trying mistake; he was trying to turn the young man and got caught and got pinned. There is nothing to hang your head about there. He gave him a full measure of his ability and Cameron is improving every day, he is just really coming on,” said coach Lamb.

Freshman Justin Saile, senior Grant Popour, sophomore Austin Bober and junior Jack Ryan were each 3-2 on the day. Freshman Tommy Vogelheim was 2-2 and sophomore Blake Fessler was 2-3 on the day.

The Hurons were at Mio for a Straits Area Conference tri-meet Wednesday (after press time) when they took on Onaway and Mio. They will be at the Gaylord Northern Michigan Championships Saturday and will travel to Newberry next Wednesday in their final regular season meet.  The conference tournament is set for Feb. 2 in Rudyard. Team districts are Feb. 7 as the Hurons will look to begin their postseason run.