By Staff
ALLEGAN – The Niles varsity wrestling team put a big notch in its belt Wednesday night as it defeated defending state champion Allegan.
The Vikings defeated the Tigers 34-33, using the third tiebreaker criteria.
Niles went on to lose a heartbreaker to Hamilton, 35-34 in its second match of the night.
Allegan captured the Division 2 state championship last season and Hamilton reached the quarterfinals in Division 3 (top eight in state) in 2006-07.
"Overall, the kids wrestled well," Niles coach Todd Hesson said. "We came out flat in the second dual (Hamilton). We got pinned in a couple of matches where we were winning against Hamilton. Our inexperienced showed there. You have to stay off your back if you are going to win duals."
Picking up wins for the Vikings against Allegan were Tyler Baber (forfeit), Gage Pearison (decision), Colin Latislaw (forfeit), Terrance Eppenger (decision), Ben Branstatter (decision), Eric Long (decision), Mike Gentry (decision) and Kenyon Ellison (decision).
Winning against Hamilton were Pearison (pin), Nate Allison (decision), Eric Dulcet (pin), Nate Heirmann (decision), Eppenger (pin), Long (decision), Ellison (forfeit).
"Nate Allison, Ben Brandstatter, Terrance Eppenger, Eric Long, Gage Pearison all wrestled well," Hesson said. "The kids will keep working."
Niles is now 7-1 on the season heading into Saturday's Grant Invitational.