By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity wrestling team will be after its second consecutive district team championship and its 10th in the past 11 years on Wednesday night.
The Chieftains, 24-7 overall, will host the Michigan High School Athletic Association tournament beginning with the first round at 6 p.m.
Dowagiac will take on Cass County rival Edwardsburg in one semifinal, while Lakeland Conference foes Buchanan and Berrien Springs meet in the other semifinal.
The championship match will be held approximately 10 minutes following the completion of the last semifinal.
Dowagiac has not faced Edwardsburg this year, while the Chieftains have defeated Buchanan in a dual match two weeks ago at the Brandywine "Snowed Out" Team Duals.
The Chieftains nipped the Bucks, 36-31.
Dowagiac has not faced Berrien Springs with its varsity line up. The Shamrocks did square off against the Chieftains' varsity B team.
Dowagiac is coming off a fourth place finish at the Big 16 Conference Tournament on Saturday, while the Bucks are coming off a win at the Lakeland Conference tournamament.
Buchanan tied with Coloma for the league championship, the Bucks' first in 33 years. Coloma went undefeated in dual meets, but lost to the Bucks on Saturday, 145-140.
Dowagiac defeated Edwardsburg last year in the opening round of the district tournament, while Coloma defeated Berrien Springs.
The Chieftains defeated the Comets to capture its ninth district championship in 10 seasons.
The Chieftains went on to win the Division 3 regional with an upset of ranked Hamilton in the regional final.
The Chieftains were ousted in the state quarterfinals at the Kellogg Center in Battle Creek by Mason County Central.
Buchanan will be looking for its first district championship since 1991.
The Chieftains will be led by senior Jeromy Northop (41-1), junior Tony Stewart (36-8), senior Matt Behnke (35-6), sophomore Justin Desjardin (33-11), senior Kyle Bennett (29-6), senior Shawn Rawson (29-10) and sophomore Nathan Cottrell (27-9).
Buchanan will be led by Todd Taylor (32-7), Nick Wheetley (33-7), Travis Reith (37-4), Jim Connors (31-10) and Ryan Carrigan (33-5).