By Staff
BATTLE CREEK – Despite losing just one match and thumping runner up Kalamazoo Central, the Niles wrestling team finished fifth at the Big 16 Conference Team Wrestling Tournament at the Kellogg Arena on Saturday.
Lakeshore blew out Kalamazoo Central 72-6 in the championship match to give the Lancers their second straight championship and their seventh in the eight-year history of the tournament.
The Vikings, the only other team to ever win the tournament, defeated Portage Central 45-30 to take fifth.
Portage Northern defeated Sturgis 42-34 to finish third.
Niles won its opening round match against Battle Creek Harper Creek 48-29, but fell to Jackson Lumen Christi in the second round 43-36.
The Vikings rebounded to defeat Kalamazoo Central 47-28 in the third round. In the semifinal round, Niles defeated Battle Creek Lakeview 49-27.
SMAC Team Wrestling Tournament
Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek
Team Standings
1. Lakeshore; 2. Kalamazoo Central; 3. Portage Northern; 4. Sturgis; 5. Niles; 6. Portage Central; 7. Battle Creek Lakeview; 8. Coldwater; 9. Jackson Lumen Christi; 10. Mattawan; 11. St. Joseph; 12. Benton Harbor; 13. Battle Creek Harper Creek; 14. Marshall; 15. Battle Creek Central; 16. Loy Norrix
Round 1
Lakeshore 79, BC Central 0; Coldwater 36, Mattawan 34; Portage Northern 66, Benton Harbor 16; Lakeview 66, Loy Norrix 15; Kalamazoo Central 43, Jackson Lumen Christi 24; Niles 48, Harper Creek 29; Portage Central 61, Marshall 12; Sturgis 46, St. Joseph 24
Round 2
Lakeshore 66, Mattawan 15; Coldwater 41, BC Central 30; Portage Northern 70, Loy Norrix 12; Lakeview 67, Benton Harbor 12; Jackson Lumen Christi 43, Niles 36; Kalamazoo Central 55, Harper Creek 21; Portage Central 65, St. Joseph 14; Sturgis 45, Marshall 25
Round 3
Lakeshore 63, Coldwater 8; Mattawan 48, BC Central 33; Portage Northern 52, Lakeview 18; Benton Harbor 48, Loy Norrix 19; Niles 47, Kalamazoo Central 28; Jackson Lumen Christi 44, Harper Creek 25; Sturgis 39, Portage Central 31; St. Joseph 33, Marshall 28
Semifinals
Lakeshore 58, Sturgis 21; Kalamazoo Central 40, Portage Northern 31; Mattawan 51, St. Joseph 22; Jackson Lumen Christi 57, Benton Harbor 20; Portage Central 61, Coldwater 15; Niles 49, Lakeview 27; Marshall 43, BC Central 26; Harper Creek 57, Loy Norrix 18
Championship
Lakeshore 72, Kalamazoo Central 6
Third place
Portage Northern 42, Sturgis 34
Fifth place
Niles 45, Portage Central 30
Seventh place
Lakeview 42, Coldwater 33
Ninth place
Jackson Lumen Christi 48, Mattawan 27
11th place
St. Joseph 43, Benton Harbor 24
13th place
Harper Creek 48, Marshall 36
15th place
BC Central 66, Loy Norrix 18