By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
It's hard to believe that the winter season is almost over. Teams are gearing up for the start of the district tournaments, which begin tomorrow night for wrestling.
Division 2 wrestling at Lakeshore
Lakeshore will host the Division 2 District Tournament, which begins Wednesday. The Lancers will face Benton Harbor in the first round, while Niles and St. Joseph will meet on the mat as well. Both matches begin at 6 p.m.
The winners will meet after the first two matches are complete and will battle for the team district title.
Division 3 wrestling at Dowagiac
Host Dowagiac drew Edwardsburg in the opening round of the Division 3 Michigan High School Athletic Association Wrestling Team Tournament, which will be held Thursday, Feb. 15.
The Chieftains and Eddies will wrestle at 6 p.m. in one of two semifinals.
Defending district champion Buchanan will wrestle Lakeland Conference foe Berrien Springs in the other semifinals, which will also begin at 6 p.m.
The Chieftains defeated the Bucks earlier this season, 45-21, while it dropped a 42-30 decision to the Eddies.
Buchanan defeated both Edwardsburg and Berrien Springs in Lakeland Conference matches.
Tickets are $5 per person. No passes will be honored.
Division 4 wrestling at Eau Claire
Brandywine will be hoping to capture its 10th district title in the past 11 years as the Bobcats will open the tournament on Thursday against Cassopolis. River Valley will take on Eau Claire, with the two winners advancing to the finals following the matches.
Division 2 volleyball at Three Rivers
Dowagiac will face host Three Rivers in the opening round of the Division 2 volleyball tournament, which will begin on Saturday, March 3.
Defending champion Sturgis, Vicksburg and Paw Paw all received first round byes.
The Chieftains and Wildcats will square off at 9 a.m., with the winner advancing to the semifinals where it will face Paw Paw at noon.
Vicksburg and Sturgis will meet in the other semifinal, scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.
The finals are slated for 2 p.m.
Division 1 volleyball at Portage Northern
Host Portage Northern drew a first round bye in the Division 1 volleyball districts, which begin Tuesday, Feb. 27.
Niles and Kalamazoo Central will go head-to-head at 4:30 p.m., Portage Central and Benton Harbor will play at 6 p.m. and Mattawan and Loy Norrix will meet at 7:30 p.m.
The four winning teams will meet for the semifinals on Friday, March 2 at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Finals will be held that same night at 7:30 p.m.
Division 1 basketball at Portage Northern
Niles drew a first round bye and will face the winner of the Mattawan/Kalamazoo Central game on Wednesday, March 7 at Portage Northern High School.
Loy Norrix and Portage Northern will play on Tuesday, March 6 at 7 p.m. Portage Central also drew a bye and will face the winner of that game on Thursday, March 8.
The finals will take place on Saturday, march 10 at 7 p.m.