Postseason wrestling begins this week

by Angie Asam–Staff Writer

The postseason for high school wrestling teams across the state started this week. Team district tournaments began Wednesday for Division 1 and 3. Today (Thursday) the Hurons will travel to Charlevoix to take on the Rayders at 5 p.m. with the winner moving on to face Onaway for the district title. The winner of that district title will move on to the team regional tournament Feb. 18 in Leroy Pine River.

The individual district tournament begins Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Manton High School. The top four finishers in each weight class will move on to individual regionals hosted by Rogers City Feb. 21.

Justin Saile in action (Photo by Angie Asam)

Saturday the Hurons hosted the Straits Area Conference/North Star League Challenge and finished second behind Mio. Four Hurons earned titles at the event. Senior co-captains Cameron Urban (145), Jacob Sobeck (152) and Austin Bober (160) and junior Justin Saile (135) each went undefeated on the day to capture titles.

Urban pinned Kyle Hemminger of Munising in 1:26 to start his day and pinned St. Ignace’s Daniel Marsh in 3:24 in the semifinals. In the finals Urban defeated Scott Blamer of Mio 5-2.

Jacob Sobeck pinned Mio’s Jordan Brooks in 2:37 and pinned Whittemore-Prescott’s Austin Howard in 58 seconds to win the 152-pound title.

Bober pinned Oscoda’s Eric Eggart in 2:20 and Tristan Farmer of Newberry in 1:13 to advance to the finals where he pinned Tim Coolbaugh of St. Ignace in 2:30.

Saile returned to the mat from a shoulder injury and pinned Munising’s Geoff Reffruschinni in 3:25 before winning by technical fall over Oscoda’s Anthony Johnson in the finals 18-1 in 3:47.

Freshman Sam Sobeck was second at 103 pounds as he pinned St. Ignace’s Anthony Barkley in 50 seconds and Rudyard’s Robert Hronek in 3:07 to advance to the finals. In the finals against Mio’s Sam Whitmore, Sam Sobeck fell by pin in 1:06 to finish second.

Senior Cole Henry was third at 140 pounds. Henry pinned Andrew Miles of Munising in 1:04 before falling to St. Ignace’s Jason Brown by pin in one minute. He then defeated Corey Maynard of Whittemore Prescott by pin in 3:49 and p

inned Munising’s Miles in 45 seconds to capture third place.

Sophomore Tristan Baller was third at 119 pounds. He started the day with a 17-1 loss to eventual champion Joe Traynham of Onaway but defeated Mio’s Daniel Ellis 6-3 to capture third place.

Senior Laine Curtis was fourth at heavyweight. Curtis pinned Newberry’s Elijah Wood in 50 seconds before losing to Ryan Prescott of Whittemore Prescott in 16 seconds. He then defeated his teammate, junior Chandler Beland by pin in 28 seconds before losing to Charlie Prescott of Whittemore Prescott by pin in 42 seconds in the match for third place.

Also competing were sophomore Juan Beltran (170), Beland (285), freshman Isaac McDonald (103), junior Tommy Vogelheim (112) and sophomore Zach Myers (130) who each went 0-2 on the day.