By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
Dowagiac's Jeromy Northrop and Cassopolis' Justin Tucker were the lone area wrestlers to pick up first round victories at the Michigan High Schoool Athletic Association's Lower Peninsula Individual Wrestling Finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Thursday.
Northrop decisioned Remus Chippewa Hills' Jordan Young in the Division 3 145-pound weight class, 8-4.
Tucker, who is wrestling in Division 4, decisioned Matt Elston of Addison, 8-6, to advance in the 135-pound weight class.
Both will wrestle when the second round begins today at 11 a.m.
Northrop (50-2) will face John Fulger of Montrose in today's quarterfinal found. Fulger is 46-7 on the year. He advanced to the quarter finals with a 8-1 win over Josh Puchala of Flat Rock.
Tucker (46-4) will face Todd Barton of St. Louis in the quarterfinals. Barton is 54-4 on the year. He advanced to the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Mark Ackerburg of Hesperia.
Division 3
Dowagiac's Kyle Bennett lost a 9-3 decision to Joe Crowley of Remus Chippewa Hills in the opening round.
Bennett (35-10) faced Kevin Rowe of Dundee in this morning's consolation round.
Buchanan's Todd Taylor, Nick Wheetley, Jim Connors and Ryan Carrigan all were defeated in the opening round on Thursday.
Taylor lost by technical fall (15-0) to Chad Reiber of Chesning.
Taylor (39-10) faced Luke Krompetz of Gladwin in this morning's consolation first round.
Wheetley was pinned in 2:49 by Zac Donofrio of Dundee. Wheetley (40-11) faced Dean Amos of Kalkaska in the consolation round this morning.
Connors was pinned in 24 seconds by Adam MacIver of Dundee. Connors (38-15) faced Nick Williams of Cheboygan in the consolation round this morning.
Carrigan dropped a heart-breaking 5-3 decision in overtime to Paul Fate of Remus Chippewa Hills in the opening round.
Carrigan (40-8) faced James Weaver of Ovid-Elsie in the consolation round this morning.
Division 4
Zach Deubner, Kenny Brown and Randy Hemminger of Cassopolis were all defeated in the opening round.
Deubner lost by technical fall to Dyan Centala of Rogers City in the openining round on Thursday. Deubner (43-6) faced Andrew Sanson of Brown City in the consolation round this morning.
Brown was decisioned by Derick Russell of Kent City, 11-5. Brown (38-12) faced Ryan Confer of New Lothrop in the consolation round this morning.
Hemminger was decisioned by Jesse Garchow of Whittemore-Prescott, 13-2. Hemminger (42-10) faced Jerico Hayward of Marlette in the consolation round this morning
Brandywine's Adam Simon, a junior, dropped a heart-breaking 7-6 decision in the opening round to Justin King of Addison. Simon (35-16) faced Matt Richardson of Mayville in the consolation round this morning.
Here is the schedule for the remaining two days of the tournament:
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.
Weigh-In: Consolation Winners and Semifinal Participants – 2-5 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 Assembly - 4:15 p.m.
Grand March - 4:30 p.m.
Round 9-Finals - 4:45 p.m.