By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES - Using the emotion of remembering a fallen former Lancer grapper, the Lakeshore wrestling team rolled to a 40-12 victory over host Niles Thursday night in the Division 2 District Tournament championship match.
The father of former Lakeshore captain Nathan Broehm spoke to the team prior to the start of the tournament accoring to veteran coach Bruce Bittenbender.
The Lancers apparently that inspirational talk to defeat St. Joseph in the opening round, 49-25, and then take it to the Vikings in the title contest.
Niles, which reached the finals with a 63-18 victory over Benton Harbor in the first round, got off to a quick start against the Lancers, winning a pair of decisions at 125- and 130-pounds.
Mason Stephenson and Derek Purcell both earned decisions to give the Vikings a 6-0 lead.
But it was all Lakeshore from that point on.
The Lancers won three consecutive matches at 135-, 140- and 145-pounds to take a 12-6 lead following Eric Shirley's pin of freshmen Ben Brandstatter.
Robert Cinnger stopped the Lancer streak with a 6-3 decision over Brad LeValley at 145-pounds.
Lakeshore won the next two matches before Josh Henry defeated Adam Miller, 6-3, at 189-pounds.
That would be the final win of the night for the Vikings as Lakeshore rolled off five straight victories, one via the pin fall and another via a technical fall, to seal the victory.
Galvin earned his 399th career victory against Benton Harbor in the opening round match and would have loved to get that 400th against the Lancers.
Winning matches against Benton Harbor in the semifinals were Jake Glueckert, Bryce Flannery, Matt Poehlman, Stephenson, Purcell, Rodney Leneway, Todd Scansen, Brandstatter, Cinninger, Josh Henry and Micah Barrett.
The Vikings will now set their sites on the individual tournament which will be held on Saturday at Vicksburg High School.
Championship match
Lakeshore…40
Niles…12
103: Brad Barker (L) d. Jake Glueckert, 2-1
112: Kyle Hammermeister (L) p. Bryce Falnnery, 0:51
119: Justin Agens (L) d. Matt Poehlman, 7-2
125: Mason Stephenson (N) d. Alex Bolt, 3-0
130: Derek Purcell (N) d. Josh Florian, 4-0
135: Drew Welke (L) d. Rodney Leneway, 11-7
140: Josh Jackson (L) d. Todd Scansen, 4-3
145: Eric Shirley (L) p. Ben Brandstatter, 1:01
152: Robert Cinninger (N) d. Brad LeValley, 6-3
160: Andy Gebhard (L) t.f. Dan Lawson, 15-0
171: Brian Middleton (L) d. Jake Groves, 8-6
189: Josh Henry (N) d. Adam Miller, 6-3
215: Matt Whittmann (L) t.f., Joel Ealy, 17-1
275: Greg Whorton (L) d. Chad Nichols, 4-3
Semfinals
Lakeshore…49
St. Joseph…25
103: Pramav Shah (SJ) p. Nick Forrester 5:28
112: Kyle Hammermeister (L) p. Sid Kumar :34
119: Justin Agens (L) p. Zach Becker 4:37
125: Alex Bolt (L) p. David Rolek 1:23
130: Bryan Ammeson (SJ) t.f. Josh Florian 23-8
135: Kurt Walter (SJ) d. Drew Welke 13-4
140: Josh Jackson (L) t.f. Karl Knaak 17-2
145: Eric Shirley (L) p. Dustin Phelan 1:01
152: Brad LeValley (L) t.f.Eric Koch 15-0
160: Andy Gebhard (L) d. Mark Lockwood 8-0
171: Tyler Flora (SJ) p. Zak Kretchman 4:59
189: Spear Wittmann (L) t.f. Kevin Owens 26-11
215: Tyler Blosser (L) p. Scott Neuenschwander 2:50
275: Logan Klug (SJ) d. Brandon Elkins 17-6
Niles…63
Benton Harbor…18
103: Jake Glueckert (N) won by forfeit
112: Bryce Flannery (N) p. George Piggeer 2:49
119: Matt Poehlman (N) won by forfeit
125: Mason Stephenson (N) p. Larry Calahan 1:59
130: Derek Purcell (N) won by forfeit
135: Rodney Leneway (N) won by forfeit
140: Todd Scansen (N) won by forfeit
145: Ben Brandstatter (N) won by forfeit
152: Robert Cinninger (N) won by forfeit
160: Anthony Williams (BH) p. Mike Marsh 3:40
171: Aaron Jenkins (BH) won by forfeit
189: Josh Henry (N) p. James Friesen 1:40
215: Micah Barrett (N) d. Monteeze Johnson 7-5
275: Keno Edwards (BH) pinned Brian Asmusi 3:18
Division 3 wrestling
By ERIKA PICKLES
Niles Daily Star
EAU CLAIRE - It was a tough match for the Brandywine Bobcats Thursday night in the Division 4 wrestling conference match held at Eau Claire High School. Brandywine suffered a 57-21 loss to River Valley.
The Bobcats, who are ranked 10th in Division 4 wrestling, had a bye in the first round which automatically put them through to the finals.
The score was almost the same in the first round of district play as River Valley beat Eau Claire 64-16 to advance to the finals.
Kyle Perry was first to wrestle for Brandywine at 135 against River Valley's Dan East. Perry had a 16-4 lead in the third period when the match was called by technical fall. Brandywine took the 5-0 lead.
Jordan Bruni wrestled Mike Stein in the 140 class, but lost by technical fall in the third period with 55 second left.
Justin Price of Brandywine lost to Jason Ehlert by decision in the 145 class and Joel Perry was pinned 1:02 in the first period by Dustin Smith. River Valley had a 15-5 lead.
Eugene Miller looked like he was going to pull off an easy win against John Coniglio in the 160 class. Miller had the lead in all three periods, but his strength gave out in the third as he was pinned 5:06 into the match.
The Bobcat's Kyle Jones was also pinned by Tim Morrissey in the 171 class at the 2:27 mark giving the Mustangs the 27-5 lead.
Adam Simons was next up for the Bobcats and gave them their first and only pin of the night against Ben Kacmar 43 seconds into the first period of the 189 class. Simons pin gave the Bobcats six much needed points, but they were still down 27-11.
The next four wrestlers for Brandywine all suffered losses by pins. Jeremy Hechtl was pinned by Zach Kacmar in the 215 class at the 3:27 mark.
Jeremy Howell was pinned by Mike Creekmore with one minite left in the first period of the 275 class. Andrew Libera was pinned by Dustin McMullin in the 103 class 1:05 into the first period and Kyle Brademas was pinned by John Stein in the 112 class 2:22 into the match to give the Mustangs an untouchable 51-11 lead.
Pat VanLaere was up next for Brandywine and won by decision against Kyle Gordon in the 119 class. VanLaere added four points to the Bobcats' score, but they were still down 51-15. Adam Saltsman loss by pin to Ryan Narrigan 1:43 into the first period of the 125 class. Lance Tallafero was the last to wrestle for Brandywine in the 130 class. He won by pin against Mike East 1:25 into the first.
Tallafero gave the Bobcats six points, but it wasn't enough to give them the district championship.
River Valley won 57-21 and advanced to Regionals which will be held next Wednesday at Eau Claire High School.
Brandywine will tarvel to Bangor this Saturday for the Individual Districts.
River Valley……….57
Brandywine……….21
103: Dustin McMullin (RV) p. Andrew Libera (B) 1:05
112: John Stein (RV) p. Kyle Brademas (B) 2:22
119: Pat VanLaere (B) dec. Kyle gordon (RV) 11-2
125: Ryan Narrigan (RV) p. Adam Saltsman (B) 1:43
130: Lance Tallatero (B) p. Mike East (RV) 1:23
135: Kyle Perry (B) tech. fall Dan East (RV) 19-4
140: Mike Stein (RV) tech. fall Jordan Bruni (B) 24-9
145: Jason Ehlert (RV) dec. Justin Price (B) 17-3
152: Dustin Smith (RV) p. Joel Perry (B) 1:02
160: John Coniglio (RV) p. Eugene Miller (B) 5:06
171: Tim Morrissey (RV) p. Kyle Jones (B) 2:27
189: Adam Simens (B) p. Ben Kacmar (RV) :43
215: Zach Kacmar (RV) p. Jeremy Hechtl (B) 3:27
275: Mike Creekmore (RV) p. Jeremy Howell (B) 1:00