By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
LAKESHORE – From the start of Thursday evenings Big 16 West Division wrestling match between Niles and Lakeshore, it was evident that the Lancers were out for a serious payback.
The Vikings upset Lakeshore at home last season with a huge victory and have given the Lancers their only two losses so far this season. Niles, on the other hand, was undefeated heading into one of the toughest match-ups of the season.
A tough night it was, as Lakeshore handed the Vikes a 27-23 loss.
"We just got beat," Niles head coach Bob Galvin said. "Lakeshore was ready for us. It's tough to beat them at their place."
Niles knew it was in trouble after falling in the first two matches of the night.
Derek Purcell and Tim Newman were the first to battle on the mat at 152-pounds. A close match ended in the hands of Newman, who claimed the 5-2 win for Lakeshore.
At 160-pounds, undefeated Ben Brandstatter suffered his first loss of the season, falling to Lakeshore's Eric Shirley, 6-4.
Alex Zanders was the first to grab a win for Niles at 171-pounds when he decisioned Dave Sirk, 9-4.
Micah Barrett earned the first pin of the evening for the Vikes, defeating Zak Kretchman at the 3:14 mark.
Chad Nichols fell to Joe Spear 7-5 at 215-pounds, while Kenyon Ellison decisioned Josh Noffke, 4-3, at 275-pounds.
Gage Pearison (103), Nate Allison (112) and Marcus Bricker (119) all suffered losses for the Vikings in the next three matches.
Jake Glueckert (125) and Bryce Falnnery (130) picked up the pace and both earned wins for Niles, but Lakeshore answered back by handing Andy Karsten (135) and Nate Heiermann (140) losses.
Todd Scansen wrapped up the night by grabbing a 15-4 victory for the Vikings at 145-pounds over Mike Humes.
"We lost a lot of close matches that we should have won. Then again, we won a few that we haven't won before. Thy just came out and got us this time," Galvin said.
Niles and Lakeshore will have a chance to meet again at the district tournament.
The Vikings will take on Benton Harbor on Thursday, Jan. 18.
LAKESHORE … 27
NILES … 23
103 – Ben Nowacki (L) dec. Gage Pearison, 11-10
112- Jeff Schoenbach (L) dec. Nate Allison, 4-3
119 – Nick Humes (L) pinned Marcus Bricker
125 – Jake Glueckert (N) maj. dec. Tyler Humes, 13-3
130 – Bryce Flannery (N) dec. Mike Davis, 4-0
135 – Alex Bolt (L) dec. Andy Karsten, 6-1
140 – Jake Skivers (L) dec. Nate Heiermann, 6-2
145 – Todd Scanson (N) maj. dec. Mike Humes, 15-4
152 – Tim Newman (L) dec. Derek Purcell, 5-2
160 – Eric Shirley (L) dec. Ben Brandstatter, 6-4
171 – Alex Zanders (N) dec. Dave Sirk, 9-4
189 – Micah Barnett (N) pinned Zak Kretchman, 3:14
215 – Joe Spear (L) dec. Chad Nichols, 7-5
275 – Kenyon Ellison (N) dec. Josh Noffke, 4-3