By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
What a difference two months makes.
Back in December the Dowagiac varsity wrestling team handed Buchanan a 45-21 setback.
Right then and there, Buchanan coach Frank Mucha, his wrestlers and his coaches decided that they needed to get to work.
"Way back in December, they just flat out wanted it more than we did," Mucha said. "They shellacked us. I told the kids at that point that what we did last year didn't matter. We just had to get better. We decided that no one in the area was going to outwork us. That much we could control. I also said that if we wanted respect, we were going to have to earn it. And I think we earned that tonight. We pushed hard. The kids worked hard and our senior leadership was good."
The Bucks knew that they would probably meet the Chieftains in the district tournament. Buchanan got its wish on Thursday night as the Bucks and Chieftains met for the district championship.
Everything seemed to go Dowagiac's way in the first meeting. But on Thursday night the Bucks turned the tables on the Chieftains and came away with a 36-23 victory to win their second consecutive district title.
Buchanan reached the finals with a 61-6 tune-up against Berrien Springs. Dowagiac rolled over Edwardsburg 51-19 to avenge an earlier loss to the Eddies.
Dowagiac coach John Green said the match came down to three bouts – 135-, 152- and 285-pounds.
The Chieftains lost all three matches to the Bucks.
Tony Taylor defeated Ritchie Hutchinson 7-2 at 135-pounds, while Terry Prowoznik dropped a 6-5 decision to Bryant Miller at 152-pounds. Dowagiac's Robert Wescott was disqualified on penalty points against Mike Connors in the heavyweight match.
Dowagiac coach John Green also had a team point deducted from the Chieftains' score for disputing a call.
Green said that he disagreed with a call made during the 189-pound match and that he didn't know exactly why Wescott got disqualified.
"To Buchanan's credit, they wrestled a good match," Green said. "They kept off of their backs which they needed to do. They got an upset at 35, 52 and heavy. We had beaten (Robert) Riggs twice this year. I'm disappointed, but they came to wrestle."
Dowagiac never got a chance to wrestle Riggs as Mucha bumped up 215-pounder Connors.
In the first meeting, the Chieftains won 10 bouts against the Bucks. On Thursday night, Buchanan won eight bouts.
Picking up victories for Buchanan were Mike Witherow, who defeated Bobby Price at 119-pounds (7-0); Todd Taylor, who received a forfeit at 125-pounds; Nick Wheetley, who pinned John Morseau at 130-pounds (0:44), Austin Ferris, who pinned Zach Roden at 145-pounds (2:45), and Aaron Leneway, who decisioned Andrew Hurrle at 171-pounds (6-0).
Dowagiac's victories came at 103, where Andrew Roden won by forfeit; 112-pounds, where Nathan Cottrell decisioned David Knisley, 5-2; 140-pounds, where Nathan Long decisioned Drew Medlin, 7-4; 160-pounds, where DeShaun Baylock decisioned A.J. Long, 8-4; 189-pounds, where Behnke decisioned Harrington, 9-5; and 215-pounds, where Drew Staley pinned Ricky Conn in 4:14.
In the semifinals, Buchanan lost just one bout.
Winning matches for the Bucks were Ashley Lolmaugh (103), Knisley, Witherow, Todd Taylor, Wheetley, Medlin, Tony Taylor, Ferris, Miller, Leneway, Harrington, Connors and Riggs.
Dowagiac (20-13) may have used up too much energy in gaining revenge on the Eddies.
Winning matches for the Chieftains against Edwardsburg were Andrew Roden, Cottrell, Price, Hutchinson, Zach Roden, Baylock, who injured his thumb during the match, Prowznik, Behnke, Staley and Wescott.
Buchanan (28-4) advances to the Division 3 regional tournament next Wednesday in Otsego, where they will face Battle Creek Pennfield in the semifinals.
Championship
Buchanan…36
Dowagiac…23
103: Andrew Roden (D) wins by forfeit
112: Nathan Cottrell (D) d. David Knisley (B), 5-2
119: Mike Witherow (B) d. Bobby Price (D), 7-0
125: Todd Taylor (B) wins by forfeit
130: Nick Wheetley (B) p. John Morseau (D), 0:44
135: Tony Taylor (B) d. Ritchie Hutchinson (D), 7-2
140: Nathan Long (D) d. Drew Medlin (B), 7-4
145: Auston Ferris (B) p. Zach Roden (D), 2:45
152: Bryant Miller (B) d. Terry Prowoznik (D), 6-5
160: DeShaun Baylock (D) d. A.J. Long (B), 8-4
171: Aaron Leneway (B) d. Andrew Hurrle (D), 6-0
189: Nate Behnke (D) Ryan Harrington (B), 9-5
215: Drew Staley (D) p. Ricky Conn (B), 4:14
285: Mike Connors (B) wins by disqualification
Semifinals
Edwardsburg…19
Dowagiac…51
103: Andrew Roden (D) p. Cameron Warren (E), 2:31
112: Nathan Cottrell (D) d. Josh Kozinski (E), 5:33
119: Bobby Price (D) p. Josh Armstrong (E), 0:59
125: Tyler Kendle (E) d. Justin Richter (D), 9-0
130: Mitchell Quesinberry (E) p. John Morseau (D), 1:29
135: Ritchie Hutchinson (D) d. Matt Peters (E), 6-4
140: Wade Smous (E) p. Nathan Long (D), 2:59
145: Zack Roden (D) p. Ryan Ackles (E), 3:44
152: DeShaun Baylock (D) d. Alex Hall (E), 14-11
160: Terry Prowoznik (D) d. Tyler Schmidt (E), 17-10
171: Anthony Young (E) d. Andrew Hurrle (D), 5-0
189: Nate Behnke (D) p. Chris Cramer (E), 1:05
215: Drew Staley (D) p. Steve Franklin (E), 5:45
285: Robert Wescott (D) p. Pat White (E), 7:08 (2 OT)
Berrien Springs…6
Buchanan…61
103: Ashley Lalmaugh (B) d. Denaryl Majet (BS), 13-11
112: David Knisely (B) p. Damon Davidson (BS), 3:51
119: Mike Witherow (B) p. Sonny Grubb (BS), 0:33
125: Todd Taylor (B) d. Zach Nearpass (BS), 15-1
130: Nick Wheetley (B) p. Francisco Trejo (BS), 3:47
135: Drew Medlin (B) d. Skyler Parsons (BS), 10-0
140: Tony Taylor (B) wins by forfeit
145: Auston Ferris (B) d. Elija Miller, 9-5
152: Bryant Miller (B) d. Dustin Bushhouse (BS), 13-0
160: David Ferris (B) d. Darius Whitehead (BS), 3-2
171: Jordan Parsons (BS) p. Aaron Leneway (B), 3:47
189: Ryan Harrington (B) d. Joe Collard (BS), 4-2
215: Mike Connors (B) p. Josh Kruck (BS), 0:51
285: Robert Riggs (B) wins by forfeit