By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – The Niles varsity wrestling team walked off the mat for the final time this season Wednesday night in Allegan. For head coach Bob Galvin, it was his last time coaching the Vikes as a team.
Niles traveled to Allegan for the Division 2 Regional finals and defeated Three Rivers in the semifinals, 48-16. However, when it was time to face top-ranked Allegan, the Vikes were all but lucky and suffered a 57-9 setback.
Niles finished 32-5 this season.
Galvin, who was sporting a new hair do, said the past eight years have been great with the Vikings.
"The first three years were very hard, but the last five years have been a lot better. When you're winning, it's always better, but now it's time for someone else to take over and continue this program in the right direction," Galvin said.
Galvin shaved his head after Niles won the district title. He was originally supposed to shave his mustache, but "I decided that wasn't going to happen, so I cut my hair off," Galvin said.
In the semifinal round against Three Rivers, Niles got wins from Derek Purcell (152), Ben Brandstatter (160), Alex Zanders (171) and Kenyon Ellison (285), who all won by pins.
Winning by decisions were Jake Glueckert (125), Andrew Karsten (135) and Nate Heiermann (140). Marcus Bricker (112) won by forfeit.
Against Allegan, the Vikings fell behind early and never were able to come close to the lead.
Nate Allison fell to Steve Poffenberger at 119-pounds on a technical fall.
Jake Glueckert pinned Chico Beach at 125 to cut the lead to 8-6, but Tigers junior Andy Krcatovich took a huge 15-0 win over Bryce Flannery at 130 to give Allegan a lead which only continued to grow from there.
Andrew Karsten took a 10-0 lead in his match with Curtis Cameron at 135, but Cameron came back and cut the lead to 10-7. With just over 30 seconds left, Cameron pinned Karsten for a huge victory.
Niles' final win of the night came from Ben Brandstatter, who decisioned Jacob Wilson, 9-4, at 160-pounds.
Allegan, now 36-2, advances to face the winner of the Carleton Airport Regional.
The Vikings are sending six wrestlers to Saturday's Individual regional wrestling tournament.
Glueckert (125), Karsten (130), Purcell (160), Zanders (171) and Ellison (285) will all travel to Eaton Rapid in hopes of bringing titles home.
As for Galvin, "Well at the end of the school year I am retiring and moving back to Grand Rapids where the family is from and I'm going to do what your suppose to do when you retire – nothing," Galvin said with a laugh.
Division 2 Regional Finals
At Allegan
Allegan … 57
Niles … 9
103 – Matt Smith (A) pins Gage Pearison, 1:51
112 – Matt Larabee (A) dec. Marcus Bricker, 7-4
119 – Steve Poffenberger (A) wins by tech. fall over Nate Allison, 20-4
125 – Jake Glueckert (N) pins Chico Beach, 4:54
130 – Andy Krcatovich (A) wins by tech. fall over Bryce Flannery, 15-0
135 – Curtis Cameron (A) pins Andrew Karsten, 5:27
140 – Greg Courtney (A) pins Nate Heiermann, 1:03
145 – John Rizqallah (A) dec.Todd Scansen, 2-0
152 – Doug Plews (A) dec. Derek Purcell, 6-5
160 – Ben Brandstatter (N) dec. Jacob Wilson, 9-4
171 – Brandon Rhodes (A) pins Alex Zanders, 0:43
189 – Cam Simaz (A) wins by tech. fall over Micah Barrett, 23-8
215 – Dan Craig (A) pins Casey Wirick, 2:19
285 – Joe Rizqallah (A) dec. Kenyon Ellison, 8-3
Niles … 48
Three Rivers … 16
103 – Matt Morrill (TR) dec. Gage Pearison, 6-4
112 – Marcus Bricker (N) wins by forfeit
119 – Charlie Detmer(TR) dec. Nate Allison, 6-0
125 – Jake Glueckert (N) dec. Cody Morrill, 13-3
130 – Taylor Misel (TR) dec. Bryce Flannery, 6-4
135 – Andrew Karsten (N) wins by tech. fall over Jacob Sandoval, 18-2
140 – Nate Heiermann (N) dec. Tanner Kirchner, 9-4
145 – Todd Scansen (N) wins by disq. (stalling) over Adam Tavernier
152 – Derek Purcell (N) pins Drew White, 1:28
160 – Ben Brandstatter (N) pins Ethan Myers, 2:30
171 – Alex Zanders (N) pins Cody Hartman, 3:07
189 – Zach Jones (TR) wins by tech. fall over Micah Barrett, 26-11
215 – Rusty Gearhart (TR) dec. Casey Wirick, 9-3
28 – Kenyon Ellison (N) pins Jason Hinn, 2:39