Brandywine wrestlers fall in finals to Bronson

Published 11:45 pm Thursday, February 26, 2009

By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
SCHOOLCRAFT – Sometimes you are beaten by a better wrestling team.
That was the case in the Division 4 Regional Wrestling Tournament finals Wednesday night at Schoolcraft High School.
After reaching the finals with a 40-27 win over Mendon, Brandywine ran into No. 9 ranked Bronson in the finals.
The Bobcats got a first hand look at why the Vikings are ranked and headed back to the state finals following a 54-24 victory in the title match.
"We didn't match up well with them," answered Brandywine coach Rex Pomranka after the finals match. "Their upper weights are really strong. They had eight or nine seniors qualify for the regionals."
The Bobcats got off to a good start against the Vikings, but couldn't maintain their momentum.
Starting with a forfeit to the Bobcats' Adam Earles at 125-pounds by Bronson, Brandywine led 6-0.
The Vikings tied the match at 6-6 with a pin at 130-pounds by Preston Lucas before the Bobcats' Ralph Sater edged Brade Losinski 9-6 at 135-pounds to give Brandywine back the lead, 9-6.
It was all Bronson from there.
The Vikings won eight out of the next nine bouts, seven by pin and one by forfeit, to end any hope the Bobcats had of pulling off the upset.
Brandywine's lone win during that stretch came at 152-pounds where senior Warren Watson defeated Stacy Shaydon-Weaver 6-3.
The Bobcats closed out the match with back-to-back wins.
Jimmie Wright received a forfeit at 112-pounds and Bryon Fisher pinned Chance Dules in 57 seconds at 119 to cap the evening.
"We gave them a run," Pomranka said. "They were the better team. I was hoping that Schoolcraft would pull an upset and they about did, because we just didn't match up well with them (Bronson)."
The Vikings edged the host Eagles 37-33 in the other semifinal.
The Bobcats came out a little flat according to Pomranka in the semifinals against Mendon, but got the job done.
Winning matches for Brandywine were Arthur Morris (103), Fisher, Justin Batman (130), Sater, Alex Humphrey (140), Watson, Kyle Kelley (160) and Aaron Clifford (171).
"We beat them, but we were a little sluggish," Pomranka said following the Bobcats' semifinal victory. "We wrestled Mendon earlier this year and maybe the kids were overlooking them, but I told them that anything can happen. Three times this year we lost to teams and then came back and beat them."
Brandywine ends the team portion of its season at 28-15.
Bronson improves to 27-5 and wins its third straight regional championship for the first time in school history.
Division 4
At Schoolcraft
Championship
Bronson…54
Brandywine…24
103: Mitchell Klinger (Bronson) p. Arthur Morris, :50
112: Jimmie Wright (Brandywine) won by forfeit
119: Bryon Fisher (Brandywine) p. Chance Dules, :57
125: Adam Earles (Brandywine) won by forfeit
130: Preston Lucas (Bronson) p. Justin Batman, 3:42
135: Ralph Sater (Brandywine) d. Brad Losinski, 9-6
140: Zac Chantrenne (Bronson) p. Ben Gerber, :31
145: Sam Erwin (Bronson) p. Alex Humphrey, 1:24
152: Warren Watson (Brandywine) d. Stacy Shaydon-Weaver, 6-3
160: Chad Cary (Bronson) p. Kyle Kelley, 5:28
171: Travis Gump (Bronson) p. Aaron Clifford, :32
189: Neil Hyska (Bronson) p. Brad Ritchey, 3:10
215: David Severn (Bronson) p. Taylor Ort, :50
285: Austin Phipps (Bronson) won by forfeit
Records: Brandywine 28-15, Bronson 27-5
Semifinals
Brandywine 40, Mendon 27
103: Arthur Morris (Brandywine) d. Trey Mathews, 10-1
112: Andre Demink (Mendon) d. Jimmie Wright, 9-4
119: Bryon Fisher (Brandwine) p. Tyler Britten, 3:58
125: Tim Grimm (Mendon) p. Adam Earles, 1:49
130: Justin Batman (Brandywine) p. Justin Middlehurst, 1:23
135: Ralph Sater (Brandywine) won by forfeit
140: Alex Humphrey (Brandywine) won by forfeit
145: Max Miller (Mendon) d. Ben Gerber, 4-1
152: Warren Watson (Brandywine) p. Daniel Foghino, 1:13
160: Kyle Kelley (Brandywine) d. Jordan Rubley, 12-9
171: Aaron Clifford (Brandywine) d. Chris Hatridge, 10-4
189: Jordan Higgins (Mendon) d. Brad Ritchey, 6-4
215: Richie Steinacker (Mendon) p. Taylor Ort, :53
285: Cory Girdley (Mendon) won by forfeit