By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
On Friday the Dowagiac wrestling team will be looking to capture the school's first state championship under the new team dual format which began in 1988.
This will be Dowagiac's fifth trip to the state quarterfinals under the new format and the sixth overall for the Chieftains, who finished second in Class B under the individual format in 1968.
Led by the likes of Mike Scherer, Curly Garrett and Chris Taylor, the Chieftains finished second to Charlotte.
It would take Dowagiac just one year to reach the state quarterfinals under the new format as in 1989 the Chieftains captured the regional championship and met Caro in the quarterfinals.
Dowagiac would lose to Caro, which went on to finish second in Class B.
Among the top grapplers on the 1989 team were Randy Coulson, David Baldwin, Pete Allison, Darby Smith, Rick Parker, John Meiser, Terry and Tim Anderson, Dan Wager, Keith Long, Jim Castanada and Chris Hesson.
Dowagiac would return to Battle Creek in 1997 for the first of four consecutive trips to the quarterfinals.
The Chieftains, who were led by the likes of Mike Rubino, Charlie VanHusan, Brent Peterson, Joe and Jay Kehrer, Dan Richmond, Robert Checkley, Jarrid Bradford, Gavin Manley, Adam Maxey, Brad Cline, Mark deVarona, Jeff deVarona and Tony Mortimore.
The Chieftains defeated Grand Rapids Forrest Hills Central in the quarterfinals, but were defeated by Mt. Pleasant in the semifinals. Mt. Pleasant ended up as the runner-up in Division 2.
Dowagiac would invade the Battle Creek Kellogg Arena again in 1998, this time reaching the finals before bowing to Ogemaw Heights in the Division 2 title match, 36-20.
The team consisted of Ian Shields, Mark deVarona, Rubino, Robert Rivera, VanHusan, Peterson, Mortimore, Cline, Checkley, Jason Hass, Maxey, Tony Sink, Scott Saylor and Joe Kehrer.
In reaching the finals, Dowagiac defeated heavily favored Middleville-Thornapple Kellogg and Lowell.
In 1999, the Chieftains made their third consecutive trip to Battle Creek, only this time as a Division 3 school.
In the quarterfinals the Chieftains knocked off Birch Run and then lost to eventual state champion Williamston in the semifinals.
Leading the charge for the Chieftains that year were Brian VanHusan, Canyon Hass, Shields, Rubino, Mark deVarona, Peterson, Denny White, Cline, Checkley, Charles White, Mike Staley, Stephen Townsend, Maxey, Joe Kehrer, Saylor and John Howard.
Dowagiac's run of consecutive trips to the quarterfinals ended in 2000 when Richmond, the eventual Division 3 state champion, defeated the Chieftains.
Making up that squad were Nick Rubino, Canyon Hass, Devon Killarney, Marcus Wilson, Steve Fleming, Mark deVarona, Bobby Krukowski, B.J. Willis, Charles and Denny White, Checkley, Townsend, Matt Wiesemes, Saylor and Howard.
On Friday night the Chieftains will send Nate Cottrell, Darr Phillips, Ryan Dutoi, Jason Krukowski, Austin Lawrence, Mike Kasper, Ken Scott, Jeromy Northrop, Isiah Caldwell, Rob Duszynski, Kyle Bennett, Jim Kehrer, Matt Behnke and Michael Johnson at Mason County Central.
The winner will face either Allendale or Richmond.