By By DON EDEN / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Wrestling is a year long sport to keep in shape, but the outcome of the Cassopolis District 4 championship came down to a flip of a coin according to both Brandywine coach Rex Pomranka and Constantine coach Steve Wilson. The Bobcats revenged an earlier 43-34 defeat to the Falcons by narrowly winning a semifinal 35-34 decision as David Dykema kept off his back the entire match in the final at 145 pounds.
"David (Dykema) did a super job staying off his back and I told the team before the match this important and cheer him on, which they did," said a pleased Pomranka, who has now won the last four Distrticts in five years as coach. "It was a good team effort and everything went our way after getting the flip of the coin. The coin flip allowed us to bump senior Warren Watson up to 160 which gave us two big wins."
An 18-3 technical fall by Kyle Kelly and a 3-0 decision by Watson propelled the Bobcats to an early 8-0 advantage.
"The coin flip was very, very important and if we would have won that it would have helped us a lot and both Rex and I probably knew before the match whoever won the toss would win," stated Wilson. "Brandywine is a good team and wrestled well, but on any given night either one of us could win and for us it is go back to work tomorrow and start to reload."
One of the seven senior Bobcat matmen, Brad Ritchey, achieved his 100th win on the mat at 189 with a pin at 36 seconds, before Constantine won the next three matches to take a 22-14 lead going into the crucial 112 pound meeting, which freshman Bobcat Jimmie Wright avenged a 17-15 defeat to Falcon Steve Martin to a pin at 3:52.
"It was worth waiting and it took a long time to get 100 wins as I started wrestling at 145 pounds as a freshman," said Ritchey. "It is pretty exciting to win District and hopefully we can win next week at regional too."
The Bobcats won the next three matches with pins by senior Bryon Fisher (2:50, 125) and junior Ralph Sater (:50, 135) being the difference.
"Brad (Ritchey) is a workhorse and wrestles tough weight classes, so he is good to get 100 wins," noted Pomranka.
A Lakeland conference final was thwarted as White Pigeon overcame four forfeits to beat an injury plagued Cassopolis squad 36-27 on the opposite mat.
"We had three main injuries out for the year and we just had enough to fill the weight classes from the beginning," explained Ranger coach Ken McCoy. "We had seven seniors to start the year and would of had a chance to win the District if everybody stayed healthy as we lost a possible 18 points in every match. We will have a young team next year and all the underclassmen learned a lot this year with senior Corey Lowe (145) medaling at state since he is one of our best wrestlers we have had."
White Pigeon took an early lead with a pin by senior Ryan Konneck (3:51) at 152 pounds and had a 18-9 lead after the heavyweights before a couple forfeits brought the Rangers a 21-18 lead, but a trio of pins by the Chiefs put the match away.
"I am very proud of the team after forfeiting four weight classes and fought hard to get in the District final," said White Pigeon coach Jay Sosinsky. "Individually, the kids are doing fine, we just have a lack of numbers going out and staying there."
Brandywine took the championship with a 46-32 outcome over White Pigeon after falling behind by nine points before Ritchey had a pin in thirty seconds. Seniors Thomas Schmitt and Dan Kershner were the winners for the Chiefs with a 10-7 decision and a pin (4:52) respectively.
After four consecutive forfeits, Fisher sent the shoulders to the mat of his opponent and Kelley sealed the victory with a pin at 145 (4:22) to send the trophy back to Brandywine.
"Brandywine has a strong tradition and are well coached." commented sixth-year coach Sosinsky. "We have won a couple District championships and would like to get back to holding the trophy instead of somebody else."
"This is our fourth year in a row winning Districts and we talk all the time about the Brandywine tradition," concluded Pomranka. "The team is starting to jell and need to stay healthy for the individuals (Districts) Saturday and for the Regionals next Wednesday, which will be tough with Mendon first and hopefully the winner of Bronson and Schoolcraft."
Championship
Brandywine…46
White Pigeon…32
103: Arthur Morris (B) won by forfeit
112: Jimmie Wright (B) won by forfeit
119: Bryon Fisher (B) p. Matt Sanderson, 3:47
125: John Tullos (WP) p. Adam Earles, 1:48
130: Alex Conley (WP) t.f. Sean Mott, 15-0
135: Ralph Sater (B) won by forfeit
140: Ben Gerber (B) won by forfeit
145: Kyle Kelly (B) p. Tony Gilbert, 4:22
152: Warren Watson (B) d. Ryan Konneck, 12-3
160: Thomas Schmitt (WP) d. Aarn Clifford, 10-7
171: Dan Kershner (WP) p. A.J. Shell, 4:52
189: Brad Ritchey (B) p. Cody Baker, :30
215: Holden Tullos (WP) won by forfeit
285: Dylan Poley (WP) won by forfeit
Semifinals
Brandywine…35
Constantine…34
103: Chase Gearhart (C) d. Arthur Morris, 10-1
112: Jimmie Wright (B) p. Steve Martin, 3:52
119: Zach Mallo (C) won by forfeit
125: Bryon Fisher (B) p. Tyler Spencer, 2:50
130: Adam Earles (B) d. Devon Frederick, 12-9
135: Ralph Sater (B) p. Justin Wissler, :50
140: Adam Reed (C) d. Ben Gerber, 4-3
145: Scotty Fulks (C) d. David Dykema, 11-10
152: Kyle Kelly (B) t.f. Seth Stears, 18-3
160: Warren Watson (B) d. Zach Lucas, 3-0
171: Rick Westerman (C) p. Aaron Clifford, 2:49
189: Brad Ritchey (B) p. Nevin Haines :36
215: Kaleb Davidhizer (C) p. Taylor Ort, 3:16
285: Joe Young (C) won by forfeit
White Pigeon…36
Cassopolis…27
103: Shauntrell Gilliam (C) won by forfeit
112: Josh McCoy (C) won by forfeit
119: Matt Sanderson (WP) p. Lucky Thammaavongsa, 3:09
125: John Tullos (WP) p. Tyler Butrick, 1:47
130: Alex Conley (WP) p. Bretho Danzy, 3:07
135: double forfeit
140: double forfeit
145: Corey Lowe (C) won by forfeit
152: Ryan Konneck (WP) p. Joe Fortuna, 3:51
160: Kim Vauthn (C) d. Thomas Schmitt, 13-8
171: Jeffrey Anderson (C) p. David Kershner, 3:27
189: Cody Baker (WP) p. Landon Wright, 1:35
215: Holden Tullos (WP0 d. Scott Turnbow, 6-4
285: Dylan Poley (WP) d. J.D. Butrick, 7-3