Three Rivers hoists the Division 2 district trophy Wednesday.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
On an evening when the roads were treacherous, the Three Rivers wrestling team had a little help getting home Wednesday.
Escorted by police and fire department vehicles, the Wildcats got their Division 2 district championship plaque back to town safe and sound after a nail-biting 39-35 victory over host Vicksburg.
It was the program’s first district title since 2010.
Shawn Brew celebrates after his pin at 160 won the match for Three Rivers.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
After beating on Mattawan 51-28 in the first round, Three Rivers ran into a Bulldogs outfit that were unwilling to bow down to the Wildcats to open the Wolverine Conference schedule earlier this season. Three Rivers won that match back in December by a point and knew the rematch would be just as taxing with a regional bid on the line.
Down two points heading into the final match at 160 pounds, it was up to senior Shawn Brew, ranked ninth in Division 2 by MichiganGrappler.com, to come through for the Wildcats. He delivered.
“I came out a little flat actually,” said Brew, who in his third outing since a knee injury, improved to 26-5. The kid came to wrestle and he got an early 4-2 lead. I ended up making it 8-4 and then pinned him early in the second period.
Connor McElroy battles his way to his 100th career victory at 140.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
“Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous at all. All I was thinking was district title going into the final match. I think that’s probably why the kid got the early lead, but then I settled into the match and wrestled my own way. I normally get pretty nervous in situations like that. We had big wins throughout the lineup the whole night.”
Along with Brew, 103-pounder Evan Griffieon, 140-pounder Connor McElroy and heavyweight Dallas Recker were double winners. McElroy secured his 100th career victory with a pivotal pin against an old rival.
Having beaten Vicksburg’s Dustin Fuller several times over the years by the narrowest of margins, McElroy pinned his opponent for the maximum six points to regain the lead for Three Rivers.
“I knew I had to come out and win it or our team wasn’t going to do well,” he said. “I came out there knowing what I had to do. It’s been close all year, but I finally came out tonight and stuck him in the third. I knew I just needed to do it for the team and that’s what pushed me. We showed how good we really were.
Dallas Recker earns a pin at 285.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
“It’s something I’ve been looking forward to all year and I finally got it. I almost broke down in tears because I was just so happy to get if finally.”
Wildcats (21-8) head coach Pete Bachinski said his kids “stepped up big” when the championship match started at 171 pounds — a weight class that is the start of a string of strong grapplers for Vicksburg.
“We had to not get pinned in the first three weight classes and we didn’t; that was huge,” Bachinski said. “It came down to the last match and it was in our senior’s hand. Shawn Brew came through with a pin. It was huge.”
Three Rivers 51, Mattawan 28
103: Evan Griffieon of Three Rivers High School won by forfeit against Mattawan.
112: Bryce Dempsey of Mattawan pinned Brock Christle of Three Rivers High School in 1 minute and 45 seconds.
119: Carter Gentry of Mattawan beat Forfeit of Three Rivers High School by forfeit.
125: Blain Dempsey of Mattawan pinned Mike Vidmar of Three Rivers High School in 1 minute and 31 seconds.
130: Hunter Cokhrane of Mattawan beat Ben Vanscoik of Three Rivers High School 13-4 (Major Decision).
135: George Lummis of Mattawan pinned Clayton Arney of Three Rivers High School in 56 seconds.
140: Connor McElroy of Three Rivers High School beat Austin Czyzewski of Mattawan 18-3 (Technical Fall).
145: John Abel of Three Rivers High School pinned Cody Copeland of Mattawan in 1 minute and 55 seconds.
152: Dallas Todd of Three Rivers High School beat Jakob Stuedemann of Mattawan 13-3 (Major Decision).
160: Shawn Brew of Three Rivers High School pinned Zach Kelly of Mattawan in 50 seconds.
171: Bailey Miholer of Three Rivers High School pinned Ram Sabyrkulor of Mattawan in 1 minute.
189: Brandon Verwey of Three Rivers High School won by forfeit against Mattawan.
215 lbs: Sam Harris of Three Rivers High School pinned Garrett Miller of Mattawan in 15 seconds.
285: Dallas Recker of Three Rivers High School won by forfeit against Mattawan.
Three Rivers 39, Vicksburg 35
103: Evan Griffieon of Three Rivers High School pinned Tyler Goodhon of Vicksburg in 1 minute and 27 seconds.
112: Colin Morgan of Vicksburg pinned Brock Christle of Three Rivers High School in 1 minute and 39 seconds.
119: Jordan Blades of Three Rivers High School pinned Kaleb Lewis of Vicksburg in 3 minutes and 30 seconds.
125: Mike Vidmar of Three Rivers High School pinned Cody Frederick of Vicksburg in 3 minutes.
130: Ben Vanscoik of Three Rivers High School beat Matt Klibgele of Vicksburg 10-4 (Decision).
135: Dan Willus of Vicksburg pinned Clayton Arney of Three Rivers High School in 1 minute and 29 seconds.
140: Connor McElroy of Three Rivers High School pinned Dustin Fuller of Vicksburg in 4 minutes and 53 seconds.
145: Chad Hettinger of Vicksburg pinned John Abel of Three Rivers High School in 3 minutes and 40 seconds.
152: David Waterhouse of Vicksburg beat Dallas Todd of Three Rivers High School 10-5 (Decision).
160: Shawn Brew of Three Rivers High School pinned Nick Wallace of Vicksburg in 3 minutes and 23 seconds.
171: Luke Mallery of Vicksburg beat Bailey Miholer of Three Rivers High School 17-0 (Technical Fall).
189: Cody Cousins of Vicksburg beat Brandon Verwey of Three Rivers High School 12-4 (Major Decision).
215: Wade Stacey of Vicksburg beat Sam Harris of Three Rivers High School 10-2 (Major Decision).
285: Dallas Recker of Three Rivers High School pinned Mo Quesade of Vicksburg in 4 minutes and 40 seconds.