Onekama High School Sports 2010-2011

Wrestling Team takes 2nd in Conference Tourney

MHS brings home 13 individual medals

BENZONIA — There was a moment Saturday when Manistee wrestling coach Chris Codden had a clear visual of the mark his team made during the day’s Mid-Michigan Wrestling Conference Championships.

Before championship and consolation matches took place, the wrestlers who made it that far were announced before the crowd, 13 of which were Chippewas — the most representatives of any of the eight conference teams competing.

“When we lined up during the announcement of who was in the final matches, as a coach, it was such a good feeling seeing so many of your kids up there,” Codden said. “I had other coaches around me that said ‘Man, that’s your whole team up there.’

Carter (140) ended the day with a 2-0 record for Manistee’s individual first-place finish.

“He’s short in stature with absolutely a heart of gold,” Codden said of Carter. “He’s not one of the tallest kids when he goes out on the mat, but when the match is over and the hand gets raised, most times it’s his.”

Report & Photo from
Manistee News Advocate Staff Report
Published Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

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All Sports at Onekama 2010-2011

Carter finishes the regular season with a record of 28-7, without being pinned in his losses.

Manistee’s Dave Engstrom (130) and Haydon Codden (135) each went 2-1 on the day for the team’s pair of silver medals, Sean Stenzel (103), Alex Meyers (112) and Tyler Knudsen (189) each went 2-1 on the day for third place, Jon Bailey (119), Larryn Kukla (145), Tucker Bruce (152), Nate Leino-Jones (160) and Alex Waterman (215) each went 3-1 for third and Adam Ball (171) and Raul Torres each went 2-2 for fourth place.

The second-place finish was a spot better than what the team finished in the conference standings heading into Saturday.

“Coming off the regular season, we were third in the standings as far as our win-loss record,” Codden said. “The only two teams to edge us out were Kingsley and Pine River. We were missing people those nights though.

“I knew coming into this tournament we were coming in with a full head of steam,” he added. “I told the kids in the beginning to go out and have fun because the pressure isn’t on us, it’s on everyone else.

“No one really looks for us to do a lot and that really helps us out. We’re still young. Most of our squad is sophomores and freshmen. So, the big thing was keeping the pressure off the younger kids.”

The Chippewas edged third-place Benzie (125.5), who were followed by Kingsley (115), Forest Area (98), Mancelona (48), Manton (47) and Traverse City Central (44.)