By By SCOTT NOVAK / Vigilant/Argus
Cassopolis' Justin Tucker placed in the top five at the Michigan High School Athletic Associasion Lower Peninsula Wrestling State Finals on Saturday.
The state finals were held at The Place of Auburn Hills.
Tucker (49-5) finished third at 135-pounds in Division 4.
Dowagiac's Jeromy Northrop was fifth at 145-pounds in Division 3.
Division 4
Tucker reached the semifinals before being knocked into the consolation bracket.
Tucker defeated Matt Elston of Addision in the first round, 8-6, before edging Todd Barton of St. Louis in the quarterfinals, 2-1.
In the semifinals, Tucker was defeated by Josh Burtch of Whittemore-Prescott, who was the eventual state champion, 9-3.
In the consolation quarterfinals, Tucker defeated Elston again, 17-5.
In the consolation finals, Tucker defeated Travis Ferry of Bronson, 10-3.
Finals
Weight: 135
Mike Stein, Three Oaks-River Valley, Dec. Donovan Cantu, Farwell, 10-0
Matt Elston, Addison, Dec. Todd Barton St. Louis, 5-2
Justin Tucker, Cassopolis, Dec. Travis Ferry, Bronson, 10-3
Josh Burtch, Whittemore-Prescott, Dec. A.J. Love, Springport, 3-1
Cassopolis' Zach Deubner, Kenny Brown and Randy Hemminger of Cassopolis were all eliminated from the Division 4 Michigan High School Athletic Association Lower Peninsula State Wrestling Finals after the second round of consolation matches.
Deubner, Brown and Hemminger were defeated in the opening round.
Deubner lost by technical fall to Dyan Centala of Rogers City in the openining round on Thursday.
Brown was decisioned by Derick Russell of Kent City, 11-5. Hemminger was decisioned by Jesse Garchow of Whittemore-Prescott, 13-2.
Hemminger survived the first round of consolation as he decisioned Jerico Hayward of Marlette, 5-3.
Deubner lost to Andre Sanson of Brown City, 3-0, while Cassopolis' Kenny Brown lost to Ryan Confer of New Lothrop, 9-3.
Hemminger was defeated in the second round of consolation as he was defeated by Joey Kokenakes of Clinton, 11-3.
Deubner finishes the year with a 43-7 record, while Brown went 38-13. Hemminger finished the season at 42-11.
Division 3
Northrop reached the quarter finals before falling into the consolation bracket.
Northrop defeated Jordan Young of Remus Chippewa Hills in the opening round with an 8-4 decision.
In the quarterfianals, Northrop was pinned by Montrose's John Fulger in 3:45. Fulger went on to finish second.
In his first consolation match, Northrop pinned Jeff Bancroft of Grayling in 2:33. In the consolation quarterfinals, Nothrop decisioned Kyle Banard of Perry, 9-3.
Adam Rowe of Dundee edged Northrop 4-3 in the consolation semifinals to advance. Rowe ended up finishing third.
In the match for fifth and sixth place, Northrop won by default over Mike Maczynski of Harrison.
Finals
Weight: 145
Kyle Barnard, Perry, Dec. Ben Boss, Vermontville Maple Valley, 11-6
Jeromy Northrop, Dowagiac, Def. Mike Maczynski, Harrison
Adam Rowe, Dundee, Dec. Jeremy Ashley, Coloma, 15-4
Brandon Putman, Caro, Dec John Fulger, Montrose, 4-2