By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The snow storm that hit the area Tuesday caused a lot of area wrestling teams to cancel or have shortened practices after school, but it sure didn't stop the focus of the wrestlers.
Niles will begin district action this evening at Lakeshore, while Brandywine and Buchanan both open the tournament on Thursday.
The Vikings look to have an excellent shot at grabbing the title this year, as they have already defeated defending champion Lakeshore on several different occasions this season.
Just this past weekend, Niles won both the team and individual championships at the Southwest Michigan Athletic Conference meet. However, the Lancers have won the district title every year since 1992, except in 2000 when they could not compete. Lakeshore also defeated the Vikes earlier this year, 27-23, so the title could fall in anyone's hands.
The Vikes have many wrestlers who could do well for them tonight, including individual conference winners Jake Glueckert (34-7 at 125), Todd Scansen (27-7 at 140), John Wreggelsworth (26-9 at 145), Ben Brandstatter (32-3 at 160) and Alex Zanders (30-6 at 171).
The Lancers sent six to the championship round, but had no winners.
If Niles wins, it will be the first district title under head coach Bob Galvin, who will retire after this season is over. Galvin is in his eighth year of coaching.
First round matches will begin at 6 p.m. tonight, with the finals being held after.
Bucks hoping to get past districts
Coming off its third straight conference title, Buchanan head coach Frank Mucha feels good about where his team stands heading into the district tournament.
"We certainly hope we can come through with the win. If we want to come out on top, we know what we need to do," Mucha said.
The Bucks will face Berrien Springs on Thursday night in the first round of district play. If they win, they will face the winner of the Dowagiac-Edwardsburg match.
The Chieftains defeated the Bucks, 46-21, at the beginning of the season and the Eddies gave Buchanan a run for their money at the Lakeland Conference tournament.
"We have gotten a lot better since we last saw Dowagiac. We really hit rock bottom against them in December, but we have done nothing but improve since and we're ready," Mucha said.
Mucha will be looking for his seniors to lead the way, and also hopes the underclassman will step up.
David Knisley (112), Mike Witherow (119), Todd Taylor (125), Nick Wheetley (130), A.J. Long (171) and Ryan Harrington (189) should help lead the way for Buchanan, which enters the tournament with a 26-4 record.
Taylor, Wheetley, Long and Harrington are all Lakeland Conference champions. Knisely, Witherow and Ferris were all runners-up.
"We've been working hard and we know what's next. There's a lot of things we're going to have to do, but we're ready," Mucha added.
Brandywine refocused and ready to go
The Brandywine wrestling team has faced some tough obstacles for the past two weeks. With the loss of two wrestlers, and the loss of the Lakeland Conference title to Buchanan, the Bobcats are now ready to take the district tournament by the horns.
The Bobcats, which enter the tournament with a 32-6 record, have been practicing hard this week and head coach Rex Pomranka said his guys are ready for tonight's tournament.
"I told them that everything up to this point was all preseason. This is where it counts," Pomranka said.
Brandywine will take on Cassopolis in the first round of the tournament, with the winner advancing to the finals.
"Cassopolis, River Valley, Eau Claire, they all have good wrestlers. We're going to need to step it up and get through some tough matches. We've seen these teams in the regular season and we know what we need to do," Pomranka said.
The Bobcats are led by their lone Lakeland Conference champion Jeremy Hechtl, who has an overall record of 43-3 at 215-pounds this year. Other wrestlers Pomranka said should do well are Justin Batman (103), Bryon Fisher (112), Chase Molica (145) and Joel Perry (160) who will return after not competing for the past few weeks.
"It's really hard to pick who is going to do well because this is a team effort. Everyone's going to play an important roll, but I will be expecting our seniors to lead us," Pomranka added.