By Staff
Edwardsburg senior Rex Kendle capped off a remarkable career Saturday night at the Palace in Auburn Hills as he finished second in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 Lower Peninsula Individual Finals.
Kendle (52-2) was defeated in the 152-pound championship match by Curtis Roddy of Montrose, 3-0.
In reaching the finals, Kendle defeated Caleb Medacco of Mason County Central with a 30 second pin, defeated Nick Moore of Stockbridge in the quarterfinals, 6-1, and decisioned Tom Lain of Richmond in the semifinals, 9-2.
Teammate Matt Rinehart (43-10) lost the only two matches he wrestled.
In the opening round Jon Roddy of Caro pinned Rinehart in 3:15. In the consolation first round, Rinehart was eliminated by Jon Peebles of Adrian Madison, 10-3.
Over in Division 4, Cassopolis's John McCoy finished eighth at 119.
McCoy had to battle his way through the consolation bracket as he was pinned (5:13) in his first round match to T.J. Cole of Michigan Center.
McCoy (51-11) then won by forfeit over Merril Martinez of Unionville-Sebewaing and decisioned Matt Gutierrez of St. Louis, 8-4.
In the consolation semifinals, McCoy was pinned by Chris Sandison of Kent City in 2:10. In the battle for eighth place, Cody Wieand of Watervliet decisioned McCoy, 10-2.
Justin Tucker (51-6) did not place at 125-pounds as he lost his first round match, 11-1, by Noah Boyd of Martin, win his second round match by default over Andrick Pruitt of Freeland and then lost in the consolation quarterfinals to Landon Shaffer of Hudson, 4-2.
Division 3
Weight: 152
Jim Rehkopf Ida Dec Leonard Logan Highland Park, 10-8 OT
Dusty Partello Grayling Dec Ryan Gehringer Essexville Garber, 5-2
Mike Kohlman Dundee Dec Tom Lain Richmond, 11-2
Curtis Roddy Montrose Dec Rex Kendle Edwardsburg, 3-0
Division 4
Weight: 119
Cody Wieand Watervliet Dec John McCoy Cassopolis, 10-2
Brian Bannister Almont Fall TJ Cole Michigan Center, 3:21
Nick Carey Union City Dec Chris Sandison Kent City, 6-1
Ben Cannon Freeland Dec Tyler Boss Addison, 7-1
Weight: 125
Jestin McWilliams Byron Fall Cody Jackson St. Charles, 2:33
Landon Shaffer Hudson Dec Dan Martin Mio, 7-1
Noah Boyd Martin Dec Dylan Centala Rogers City, 9-0
Justin Zeerip Hesperia Dec Nathan Gonzalez Springport, 7-5