By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
EAU CLAIRE – There was little doubt about who was going to win the Burton Richards Invitational on Saturday heading into the finals.
Hesperia won its fourth straight championship as it easily outdistanced runner-up Niles, 285.5-212.
Decatur finished third with a 149 points, while Buchanan was fourth with 131 points and Delton-Kellogg fourth with 128.5 points.
Cassopolis finished sixth, while Edwardsburg was 13th.
The second place finish was the third in four years for the Vikings, who tied Hesperia for the championship in 2004.
Hesperia had eight wrestlers in the championship finals. The Vikings landed just a pair of grapplers in the finals.
Hesperia came away with seven champions and two runners-up. Niles' lone champion was Alex Zanders at 171-pounds. Nate Allison was second at 112-pounds.
Cassopolis also had a champion and a runner-up on Saturday as John McCoy captured the 152-pound weight class, while Mike DeGraff lost to Zanders.
Buchanan's Nick Wheetley finished second at 125-pounds, while Drew Medlin was second at 135-pounds.
Finishing third for the Vikings were Jake Glueckert at 125-pounds, Bryce Flannery at 130-pounds, and Chad Nichols at 215-pounds.
Taking third for the Bucks Todd Taylor at 119-pounds, A.J. Long at 171-pounds and Ryan Harrington at 189-pounds.
Finishing third for the Rangers were Corey Lowe at 140-pounds and John Grice at 285-pounds.
Finishing fourth for Niles were Andrew Karsten (135), John Wregglesworth (145), Derek Purcell (160) and Kenyon Elleson (285).
Taking fourth for Buchanan was Mike Connors (215).
Eau Claire Invitational
Team results
Hesperia 285.5, Niles 212, Decatur 149, Buchanan 131, Delton-Kellogg 128.5, Cassopolis 103, River Valley 78, Hartford 72, Eau Claire 65, Schoolcraft 49, Berrien Springs 44.5 Benton Harbor Countryside 44.5, Edwardsburg 42.5, Lawton 40.5, Watervliet 38, Gobles 38, Covert 22, Fennville 17, Benton Harbor 7
Championship Finals
103: Matt Loveland (DK) t.f. Mark Loveland (DK), 22-7
112: John Hren (HES) p. Nate Allison (N), 2:58
119: Chas Burtchett (HAR) d. John Stein (RV), 5-3
125: Brandon Zeerip (HES) p. Nick Wheetley (BU), 1:31
130: Malcolm Martin (HES) p. Corey Disterheft (EC), 2:53
135: Mark Ackerberg (HES) d. Drew Medlin (BU), 14-12
140: John Burns (DEC) p. Phil Khozein (HES), :52
145: Dan Yates (HES) d. Kyle Froelich (BS), 9-1
152: John McCoy (CASS) p. Tyler Carr (W), 1:42
160: Justin Zeerip (HES) p. Coty Marcoux (HAR), 2:52
171: Alex Zanders (N) d. Mike DeGraff (CASS), 10-2
189: Andrew Charles (S) d. Matt Johnson (DEC), 15-4
215: Bill Bourdo (DK) d. Bill Noirot (HES), 2-1
285: Rudy Spaulding (HES) d. Jordan Rasmussen (DEC), 8-5
Consolation Finals
103: Collin Zeerip (HES) d. Dustin Mc Mullen (RV), 4-2
112: Cameron Serba (DEC) p. Kevin Davis (EC), 2:25
119: Todd Taylor (BU) d. Cody Brookman (S), 18-5
125: Jake Glueckert (N) d. Brendon Boyle (DEC) ,15-1
130: Bryce Flannery (N) p. Cameron Johnson (LAW), :44
135: Irwin Rockette (COU) d. Andrew Karsten (N), 9-6
140: Corey Lowe (CASS) p. Vince Carango (LAW), 2:15
145: Eric Gallegos (COV) d. John Wregglesworth (N), 10-4
152: Daniel Bratcher (DEC) p. Shaun Reigler (DK), 4:49
160: Dustin Lawson (GOB) d. Derek Purcell (N), 9-7
171: A.J. Long (BU) d. Robert Hall (DEC), 3-0
189: Ryan Harrington (BU) d. Jordan Parsons (BS), 4-3
215: Chad Nichols (N) p. Mike Connors (BU), 3:31
285: John Grice (CASS) d. Kenyon Ellison (N), 10-6