By SCOTT NOVAK
Dowagiac Daily News

NILES – Going into Thursday night’s Division 4 Team District Tournament championship match against Lakeland Conference foe River Valley, Brandywine coach Rex Pomranka knew it was going to be a war.

And that’s exactly what it was.

The Bobcats and Mustangs battled back and forth, but in the end it was the Brandywine lower weights that delivered a victory.

Trailing 33-24 heading into the 103-pound match, the Bobcats needed someone to pick them up.

It came in the form of William Newton, who pinned River Valley’s Cody Alwood just six seconds before the end of the second period.

That cut the Mustangs’ lead to 33-30.

Arthur Morris, Jimmy Wright and Chanc Ravish then finished off River Valley with three consecutive victories to give the Bobcats a 48-33 win.

Brandywine reached the finals with a 60-24 win over Bridgman, who had just five wrestlers.

River Valley defeated Eau Claire 48-33 in the other semifinal.

“Our strong point this whole year has been our lower weights and middle weights,” Pomranka said. “They tried to bump away from Ralphie (Sater) and it almost worked out better for us.

“That was a good match there at 160. We bumped up Alex Humphrey, which is our regular 52 and it almost worked out. At 215 it was kind of a shocker there I thought we could be them there, but that’s part of wrestling. Three, 12, 19 and then 25 finished it off and sealed the deal,” he added.

Brandywine led 24-6 early on, but five straight wins by the Mustangs, including three consecutive pins and a forfeit, gave River Valley the lead and set up the dramatic finish.
“We needed the upper weights to keep it close for us and then let our lower weights try to win it for us,” Pomranka said.

The win gave Brandywine its fifth consecutive district championship and advances it to the Decatur regional next Wednesday.

The Bobcats will be joined by the host Raiders, Constantine and Schoolcraft, which eliminated Brandywine at the 2009 regional.

Division 3
Championship
At Brandywine
River Valley…33
Brandywine…48
103: William Newton (BW) p. Cody Alwood 3:54
112: Arthur Morris (BW) p. Joe Lovison 1:38
119: Jimmy Wright (Brandywine) p. Chris Sebring 1:31
125: Chanc Ravish (BW) p. Lucas Prentice 1:43
130: Alex Helert (RV) p. Justin Batman 2:43
135: Robert Nickless (BW) p. Joey Schedler :48
140: Adam Earles (BW) p. Dylan Petrick :20
145: Ralph Sater (BW) wins by forfeit
152: Matt Bricker (BW) p. Ethan Zeiger :39
160: Steven Backus (RV) d. Alex Humphrey 8-7
171: Tommy Poepker (RV) p. Max Hostetler 1:30
189: Nick Mercer (RV) p. A.J. Shell 1:45
215: Travis Wood (RV) p. Bryan Lee :53
285: Alex Kacmar (RV) wins by forfeit

Semifinals
Bridgman…24
Brandywine…60
103: Jarret Anderson (Bridg.) p. Jeff Cornwell 5:11
112: Arthur Morris (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
119: Jimmy Wright (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
125: Chanc Ravish (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
130: Robert Nickless (Brandy.) p. Dustin Zebell :25
135: Adam Earles (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
140: Ralph Sater (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
145: Matt Bricker (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
152: Alex Humphrey (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
160: Mitch Hehl (Bridg.) p. Max Hostetler 4:33
171: Shane Desrosiers (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
189: A.J. Shell (Brandy.) wins by forfeit
215: Pat Williams (Bridg.) p. Bryan Lee 1:10
285: Cooper Gast (Bridg.) wins by forfeit

River Valley…48
Eau Claire…33
103: Nick Pugh (RV) p. Marci Alvarado 3:16
112: Joe Lovison (RV) p. Rant Bighton 5:21
119: Chris Sebring (RV) wins by forfeit
125: Lucas Prentice (RV) p. Eleazar Alvarado 2:25
130: Joey Schedler (RV) wins by forfeit
135: Alex Ehlert (RV) wins by injury default over Josh Nunez
140: Dennis Medlin (EC) p. Dillon Peterek :24
145: William Bridwell (EC) p. Ethan Zeiger 2:43
152: T.J. Hess (EC) d. Steven Backus 7-0
160: Jacob Klitchman (EC) p. Ryan Crowd :32
171: Erik Gonzalez (EC) p. Tommy Poepker 1:49
189: Zane Klitchman (EC) p. Travis Wood :54
215: Nick Mercer (RV) p. Cain Wilbur 1:50
285: Alex Kacmar (RV) p. Shane Wheaton 1:04

Division 4
MARCELLUS – There was not a single decision in Thursday night’s Division 4 District Wrestling Tournament semifinal match up between Schoolcraft and Cassopolis.

The Eagles made short work of the Rangers, winning, 72-12.

Earning wins for the Rangers were Josh McCoy at 119-pounds and Lucky Thammauongsa at 125.

McCoy pinned Dan Ebersberger in 1:35, while Thammauongsa pinned cody Maze in 2:51.

Schoolcraft defeated host Marcellus 70-9 in the championship match.

Schoolcraft…72
Cassopolis…12
At Marcellus
103: Dylan Smith (S) p. Shauntrell Gillian 1:07
112: Chris Caporossi (S) wins by forfeit
119: Josh McCoy (C) p. Dan Ebersberger 1:35
125: Lucky Thammauongsa (C) p. Cody Maze 2:51
130: Shawn Viene (S) p. Tyler Butrick 2:40
135: Austin Landis (S) p. David Sopaseuth :45
140: Zack VanZile (S) p. Bretho Danzy 1:06
145: Zack Ragan (S) wins by forfeit
152: Lucas Nadrasik (S) wins by forfeit
160: Connor Sharp (S) p. Jaylin Lawson 2:02
171: Trent MacNeil (S) p. Ian Montgomery 2:30
189: Brandon McNees (S) p. Dominic Forbes :48
215: Alex Caporossi (S) p. James Butrick :45
285: Dan Monroe (S) wins by forfeit

Division 2
STEVENSVILLE – Host Lakeshore, ranked No. 4 in the state in Division 2, didn’t waste much time in dispatching Niles and St. Joseph in the Team District Tournament Thursday night.

The Lancers defeated the Vikings 67-3 in the opening round and then claimed their 17th district title in the past 19 years with a 67-12 win over the arch rival Bears.

Lakeshore was so dominant against Niles, only one match was decided by eight points of less – Colin Burandt’s 10-4 loss to Travis Dragomer at 130-pounds.

The Lancers recorded seven pins against the Vikings and three technical falls.

Niles’ lone victory came at heavyweight. Mike Gentry defeated Kyle Carlson 13-6.

The Vikings finish their season at 20-15.

Championship
At Stevensville
Lakeshore…67
St. Joseph…12
103: Kyle Frese (L) won by forfeit
112: Tyler Daniels (L) p. John Dansfield 1:35
119: Tyler Frese (L) t.f. Cody Kelly 16-0
125: Brett Glaske (L) won by forfeit
130: Chris Ketchmark (S) p. Brandon Mendoza 3:14
135: Ben Nowacki (L) p. Cam Hunsberger 1:23
140: Dillon Burnside (L) t.f. Mike Gould 17-2
145: Payne Hayden (L) p. Dave Bluschke 1:57
152: Nick Humes (L) won by forfeit
160: Austin Bedell (L) p. Chrys Killebrew 1:34
171: Nick Adams (L) p. Tim Gould 3:34
189: Alex Rutherford (S) p. Spencer Lemley 3:12
215: Kyle Spear (L) d. Andrew Brown 8-1
285: Tyler Tiefenbach (L) p. Owen Cole 3:02

Records
Lakeshore 31-4, St. Joseph 13-5

Semifinals
Niles…3
Lakeshore…68
103: Kyle Frese (L) p. Tyler Baber :34
112: Tyler Daniels (L) t.f. Dakota Wright 20-4
119: Tyler Frese (L) m.d. Gage Pearison 12-2
125: Brett Glaske (L) m.d. Cole Allison 12-2
130: Travis Dragomer (L) d. Colin Burandt 10-4
135: Mark Cox (L) p. Dante Stevens 2:36
140: Jordan Florian (L) p. Robbie Legus 3:51
145: Payne Hayden (L) p. Rashad Harris 3:28
152: Nick Humes (L) t.f. Fritz Findeisen 18-2
160: Christian Nitz (L) p. Cal Flenar :40
171: Tyler Humes (L) t.f. Ryan Casey 18-3
189: Ryan Brandt (L) p. Chandler King 1:26
215: Kyle Spear (L) p. Terry Purvis 1:35
285: Mike Gentry (N) d. Kyle Carlson 13-6
Records
Niles 20-15