By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES - When the Division 3 state wrestling finals get under way today at The Palace of Auburn Hills, Buchanan's Ryan Carrigan will be making yet another trip.
Carrigan, who finished fourth at 275-pounds at the Division 3 regional held at Hamilton High School on Feb. 26, brings a 40-7 record into the state finals, which begin today at 2:45 p.m.
Carrigan, a senior, will be joined by teammates Todd Taylor (103), Nick Wheetley (119) and Jim Connors (189).
Carrigan will face Paul Fate of Remus Chippewa Hills in the opening round. Fate, a junior, is 41-2 on the season.
The winner will advance to face either Jarod Trice of Highland Park (36-2) or James Weaver of Ovid-Elsie (31-5).
Other top wrestlers in the 275-pound class are Tim Lee of Melvindale (49-1), Keith Cotter of Remus Chippewa Hills (41-6), Jacob Smith of Hopkins (38-8), Martin Nelson of Flint Powers (54-1), Lionel Julian of Mt Clemens (32-7), Chris Runyon of Allendale (46-5), Nathan Neuenfeldt of Freeland (40-8), tim Ofield of Grand Rapids Forest Hills East (47-2), Todd Marsh of Big Rapids (30-7) and William Blattman of Onsted (40-7).
The individual state tournament will be held through Saturday evening.
Wrestling will being Thursday afternoon following the Grand March at 2:30 p.m.
Here is the complete schedule of events:
Thursday, March 10
Grand March – 2:30 p.m.
Round 1 – Championship 1st round, 2:45 p.m.
Friday, March 11
Round 2 – Consolation 1st round, 8:30 a.m.
Round 3 – Championship Quarterfinals, 11 a.m.
Round 4 – Consolation 2nd round, 2 p.m.
Round 5 – Championship Semifinals, 7 p.m.
Saturday, March 12
Round 6- Consolation 3rd round, 8:30 a.m.
Round 7 – Consolation Semifinals, 10:10 a.m.
Round 8 – Consolation Finals (7th, 5th, 3rd place matches), Noon
Grand March, 4:30 p.m.
Finals, 4:45 p.m.
(Editor's Note: Carrigan's name was omitted from the preview story which appeared in Tuesday's Niles Daily Star. We regret the error.)