By By DAN WEISS / Niles Daily Star
STEVENSVILLE -- The Niles varsity wrestling got off to an incredible start in the championship match of Wednesday night's Division 2 Team District Tournament at Lakeshore High School.
The Vikings raced out to a 29-0 lead by winning the first six matches, starting at 160 pounds.
Lakeshore, however, rallied to win the final eight matches and pulled off an impressive comeback for a 33-29 victory and the district title.
Wyatt Hickey got things started for Niles with a win by injury default over Andy Gebhard in the 160-pound match. Josh Henry then pinned Will Whitehead at 171 pounds. James Edwards earned a technical fall over Hannes Seuss at 189 pounds and Joel Ealy pinned Adam Miller at 215 pounds. Dustin Sullivan earned an 8-6 overtime decision over Lakeshore's Greg Wharton at 275 pounds. Matt Poehlman beat Kyle Hammermeister 8-3 at 103 pounds to conclude the Vikings' run.
With the exception of 103, Lakeshore swept the lower weights, pulling to within 29-21 with three matches left to go.
Niles senior Kyle Isabel nearly extended the Vikings' lead in the 140-pound match, but was edged, 10-9, by Lakeshore's Chad Newman.
Lakeshore managed just two pins in the match, one at 119 pounds and the other at 152 pounds, which finally pushed the Lancers ahead.
Niles finishes the season with a record of 27-4, which is the most wins ever for a Niles varsity team in a single season. Three of those losses came against Lakeshore.
Niles wrestlers will take part in the Individual District Tournament Saturday at Vicksburg High School.
Lakeshore….33
Niles………….29
103: Matt Poehlman (N) beat Kyle Hammermeister 8-3; 112: Justin Agens (L) beat Bryce Flannery 15-0 (technical fall); 119: Chris Forrester (L) pinned Derek Purcell 1:10; 125: Drew Welke (L) beat Mason Stephenson 10-7; 130: Nathan Broehm (L) beat George Nelson 12-0; 135: Aaron Bradley (L) beat Charles Nelson 4-1; 140: Chad Newman (L) beat Kyle Isabel 10-9; 145: Ryan Kolberg (L) beat Robert Cinninger 9-3; 152: Matt Whittmann (L) pinned Brandon Townsley 2:25; 160: Wyatt Hickey (N) beat Andy Gebhard by injury default; 171: Josh Henry (N) pinned Will Whitehead 5:24; 189: James Edwards (N) beat Hannes Seuss 17-0 (technical fall); 215: Joel Ealy (N) pinned Adam Miller 2:59; 275: Dustin Sullivan (N) beat Greg Wharton 8-6 (OT)