By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
Junior Drew Staley and senior Nate Behnke finished third and fourth respectively on Saturday at the Division 3 Regional Wrestling Tournament at Zeeland West High School in Holland.
The pair now advance to the state finals at The Palace in Auburn Hills, March 8-10.
Staley went 3-1 to finish third on Saturday.
In the consolation finals he pinned Billy Bourdo of Kellogg in 1:57.
Behnke, who was 2-2 on the day, lost by injury default against Justin Hengst of Zeeland West. Behnke had a sore shoulder, so it was decided he wouldn't wrestle his final match.
Dowagiac had four other regional qualifiers, however, just one picked up a victory.
Senior Nathan Cottrell went 1-2 on the day, winning his first regional match in three attempts.
Juniors Terry Prowoznik and Robert Wescott, along with freshmen Andrew Roden, were all 0-2 on the day.
Buchanan advanced three wrestlers, while Edwardsburg advanced one grappler.
Nick Wheetley captured the 125-pound regional title with a 6-4 victory over Nick Bogue of Central Montcalm in overtime.
Also advancing were Drew Medlin, who was third at 135-pounds, and Todd Taylor, who was fourth at 119-pounds.
Medlin defeated Joe Gonzalez of Zeeland West, 3-0.
Taylor was defeated by Central Montcalm's Wayne Bogue, 14-8.
Edwardsburg's Alex Hall finished fourth at 145-pounds. He was defeated in the consolation finals by Connor Baker of Belding, 4-2.
Division 3 Regional Wrestling
At Zeeland West High School
Championship Round
103: John Tanner (Coloma) d. Matt Loveland (Kellogg) 12-9
112: Elijah Troost (Comstock Park) p. Scott Russo (GR West Catholic) 1:00
119: J.T. Gustin (Kelloggsville) d. Steve Lambert (Forrest Hills Eastern) 10-3
125: Nick Wheetley (Buchanan) d. Nick Bogue (Central Montcalm) 6-4 (OT)
130: Ryan Brown (Parchment) won by default Mitch Reatini (Allendale)
135: Jake Potyraj (Wyoming Park) p. Matt Kiser (Coloma) 2:31
140: Ethan Porter (Central Montcalm) d. Tristan Koole (Parchment) 11-8
145: Kyle Froehlich (Berrien Springs) d. Michael Heasley (14-7)
152: Shawn Pitsch (Hamilton) d. Ryan Simonson (Wyoming Park) 12-2
160: Drakkar Klose (South Haven) p. Kinian Mack (Hopkins) 3:06
171: Kamron Jackson (South Haven) t.f. Jordan Parsons (Berrien Springs) 3:37
189: Brian VanHouten (Allendale) d. Nick Miller (Spring Lake) 6-5
215: Chance Coda (GR Catholic Central) d. Jeff Beebe (Allendale) 8-2
285: Octavio Romero (Kellogg) p. Will Riebel (GR Catholic Central) 1:27
Consolation Round
103: Nate Fix (Comstock Park) d. Will Jensen (Allendale) 7-3
112: Luke Faultersack (Coloma) d. Anthony Reese (Hamilton) 5-0
119: Wayne Bogue (Central Montcalm) d.. Todd Taylor (Buchanan) 14-8
125: Logan Worel (Spring Lake) p. Adam Bastow (South Haven) 2:46
130: Nic Lambright (Kelloggsville) p. Cory Gray (Spring Lake) 0:36
135: Drew Medlin (Buchanan) d. Joe Gonzalez (Zeeland West) 3-0
140: Justin Herder (Spring Lake) d. Andress Alcauter (South Haven) 5-3
145: Connor Baker (Belding) d. Alex Hall (Edwardsburg) 4-2
152: Matt Rankins (Zeeland West) d. Miles Freed (Central Montcalm) 8-6
160: Alex Gingrich (Comstock Park) d. Reuben Salinas (Hamilton) 6-5
171: Jack Buzzitta (GR Catholic Central) p. Tyler Berens (Hamilton) 3:00
189: Justin Hengst (Zeeland West) won by default Nate Behnke (Dowagiac)
215: Drew Staley (Dowagiac) p. Billy Bourdo (Kellogg) 1:57
285: Matt Forward (Zeeland West) p. Dan LaJoie (Allendale) 5-3