By By SC0TT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Wrestlers from the Leader Publications coverage area were well represented on the All-Southwest Michigan Wrestling Team which was recently selected.
The team, which is chosen by the area coaches, had 23 grapplers from Brandywine, Cassopolis, Dowagiac, Edwardsburg and Niles chosen for the first, second or honorable mention portions of the squad.
First team selections were Darr Phillips of Dowagiac, Justin Tucker of Cassopolis, Jeromy Northrop of Dowagiac and Josh Henry of Niles.
Gobles heavyweight Brian Leighton was named Wrestler of the Year. Bangor's Dennis Paquette was named Coach of the Year.
Here is the team listed by weight class:
1st: Justin Agens, Lakeshore
2nd: Matt Poehlman, Niles
Honorable Mention: Kyle Hammermeister, Lakeshore; Brett Golliher, Decatur; John Stein, River Valley
1st: Darr Phillips, Dowagiac
2nd: Chris Kovach, Gobles
Honorable Mention: Travis Reith, Buchanan, Mike Morrison, Brandywine
1st: Cody Wiend, Watervliet
2nd: Chris Forrester, Lakeshore
Honorable Mention: John Farrell, Brandywine; John McCoy, Cassopolis; Wade Richardson, Coloma
1st: Justin Tucker, Cassopolis
2nd: Drew Welke, Lakeshore
Honorable Mention: Brett Hawblitzel, Coloma; Mason Stephens, Niles, Chris Chappell, Hartford
1st: Todd Ehlert, River Valley
2nd: Nathan Broehm, Lakeshore
Honorable Mention: Josh Engelkeimer, Berrien Springs; David Medina, Buchanan; Adam Schmidke, Lake Michigan Catholic
1st: Aaron Austin, Bangor
2nd: Mike Stein, River Valley
Honorable Mention: Matt Koller, Brandywine, Aaron Clark, St. Joseph
1st: David Wililamson, Decatur
2nd: Jeremy Ashley, Watervliet
Honorable Mention: Chad Newman, Lakeshore; Robert Thompson, Brandywine
1st: Jeromy Northrop
2nd: Ryan Kolberg, Lakeshore
Honorable Mention: Adam Ringler, Brandywine; Julian Arreola, Hartford; Joe Riksen, Gobles
1st: Rex Kendle, Edwardsburg
2nd: Matt Wittman, Lakeshore
Honorable Mention: Evan Smith, Brandywine; Chris Rassmussen, Decatur; Blake Jackson, Gobles
1st: Andy Gebhard, Lakeshore
2nd: Brian Cady, Decatur
Honorable Mention: C.J. Meyers, Coloma; Kyle Bennett, Dowagiac; Josh Rigozzi, Bangor
1st: Josh Henry, Niles
2nd: Jesse Martin, Coloma
Honorable Mention: Randy Deaton, River Valley; Bryan Daniel, Brandywine; Thomas McColl, Bangor
1st: Dustin Gordon, Bangor
2nd: Jim Kehrer, Dowagiac
Honorable Mention: Ben Isbrecht, Watervliet; Ray Portor, Bangor
1st: Levon Mock, Bangor
2nd: James Edwards, Niles
Honorable Mention: Nick Grenke, St. Joseph; Jordan Rasssmussen, Decatur; Matt Rinehart, Edwardsburg
1st: Brian Leighton, Gobles
2nd: Michael Johnson, Dowagiac
Honorable Mention: Jaime Llerena, Bangor; Derrick Haman, River Valley; Josh Johns, Brandywine; Jimmy Thompkins, St. Joseph