Dallas Recker won the 285-pound district title Saturday at Vicksburg.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
Three Rivers junior heavyweight Dallas Recker led a group of five Wildcats that made it out of Saturday’s Division 2 individual wrestling district tournament at Vicksburg.
After finishing runner-up in 2013, Recker benefited from a 37-2 record this year to earn a double bye at 285 pounds. He pinned Niles’ Alex Bata in 2:22 to set up a championship bout with Parma-Western’s Austin Catt.
Catt entered the finals after registering a 20-second pin in the semifinals, and he gained control against Recker early. But the Three Rivers big man quickly turned the table for a pin 1 minute and 34 seconds into the second period.
Connor McElroy advanced to regionals after placing second at 140 pounds.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
“It was a little long and boring because I had two first-round byes, but when that first match came up I was ready for it,” said Recker, currently rated the eighth-best heavyweight in D2 by MichiganGrappler.com. Even though I had to wait around a while, I was prepared, but I wasn’t prepared for the finals match. There was a guy [Catt] that I knocked out last year in districts that came back a little better and I wasn’t prepared for it. I just had to change the momentum. He had me on my back for a while and I kind of rolled him over. I was on top and just basically pinned him from there.”
Senior Shawn Brew went to Vicksburg with a 23-5 record and ranked ninth in the state. After a bye, he pinned Battle Creek Central’s Brandon Crum in 3:06, followed by a 2-1 decision in a dogfight with Sturgis’ Anthony Neal in the semifinals. Sixth-ranked Gunner Harrison (Stevensville Lakeshore) topped Brew 10-3 in the championship.
Shawn Brew was runner-up at 160 pounds to punch his regional ticket.
(Photo by Natalie Brew)
“Personally, I wrestled flat all day,” Brew said. “I definitely need to clean it up before regionals. However, the team did very well. I was proud of some of the young guys today. It was cool to see them battle and make it to the next stage of the postseason. Also, it was an emotional day; it was hard to see some of my fellow seniors get bumped out.”
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Freshman Evan Griffioen placed fourth at 103 pounds for the last qualifying spot in his weight class. He picked up a 6-5 decision in the quarterfinals and was bounced to the consolation bracket after falling to Edwardsburg’s Michael Higley in 1:04 in the semis. David Smith of Battle Creek Central won the third-place match with a 10-2 major decision.
“I did good,” he said after improving to 28-16 this season. “I could’ve moved better on the bottom and on my feet. I was so nervous. Some coaches told me to go out there and wrestle your style and not worry about anything else.”
Posing a runner-up performance at 140 pounds, senior Connor McElroy pinned his way to the finals but was edged 6-5 by Niles Warren Smith. Next weekend marks McElroy’s first regional appearance since his freshman year.
“I wrestled great today and I am really excited to move on,” said McElroy, who is now 31-8.
At 189 pounds, junior Brandon Verwey (25-8) claimed fourth place, starting the day with a 13-8 decision against Niles’ Cody Thornton in the quarterfinals. Verwey fell 8-4 to honorable mention Blake Parsons (Edwardsburg) in the semis, forcing a blood-round battle with Battle Creek Central’s Jallen Johnson — a match Verwey won 9-7.
Coldwater’s Cooper Murphy beat Verwey 9-3 in the consolation final.
Three Rivers takes on Niles Wednesday in a team regional semifinal at Harper Creek.