MHS Wrestlers Take Fifth in Conference

Manistee News Advocate Staff Report January 7

LEROY — The Manistee High School wrestling team wrapped up its first season as a member of the Mid-Michigan Wrestling Conference with a fifth-place finish in Saturday’s tournament.

The co-op Chippewas also placed fifth in the regular season in the nine-team conference.

“I was happy with everyone,” said Manistee coach Chris Codden. “These kids did really well and fought really hard. They were so focused.”

Regular season champion Kingsley also won the tournament, edging Pine River, 212-208. Benzie placed third with 92 points, followed by Manton (96) and Manistee (59).

“Overall, I knew Kingsley was going to be the toughest, along with Pine River, considering they have teams loaded with seniors,” Codden said.

Individually, seven Chippewas medaled with a fourth place or higher.

Manistee’s Caleb Bailey went 3-1 and took second at 119 pounds, but a loss to Pine River spoiled the senior co-captain’s hopeful finish for first. “Caleb just had a really hard time getting anything going,” Codden said. “With a guy like Caleb, it just makes him go that much harder.”

Also taking second place for Manistee was Raul Torres at heavyweight, finishing 2-1. “It had to be the best day I’ve seen for Raul,” Codden said.

First-year Chippewa wrestler Nick Carter finished 3-1 and took third place at 125 pounds. “Unbelievable day,” Codden said. “Excellent job, I can’t say enough about him.”

Manistee wrestlers Alex Meyers (103), Tucker Bruce (130), Luke Fogarty (145) and Tyler Kniss (152) all went 2-2 and took fourth place.

Also for the Chippewas, Brian Fisk (112) and Nathan Rybicki (189) both went 1-2 and finished fifth, Dan Wehrmeister (160) went 1-2, while Dakota Girard (135), Travis Bulerski (171) and Alex Waterman (215) all finished 0-2.

“It’s nice to be in a conference that’s innovative and thinking,” Codden said. “The people who lead it do a nice job. It’s good competition.”

The conference meet wasn’t the only competition Manistee was involved in on Saturday as the Chippewas sent a second team to a 16-team tournament in Shelby.

The other Chips, most of who wrestle junior varsity, finished the day 2-3 in the varsity tournament with wins over Godwin Heights and Muskegon Catholic Central, and losses to Shelby, Lakeview and Ludington.

Travis McKenney (103) and Brandon Morrill (152) both went 4-1 and finished second and Jon Hogiev (135) went 3-2 and placed third. Also for the Chippewas, Frank Carini (145), Tyler Knudsen (171) and Zack Paine (heavyweight) all went 2-3, Parker Johnson (160) was 1-4 and Ariel Tomaszewski (130) finished 0-5. 

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