A slow start couldn’t keep the Niles wrestling team from earning a Big 16 Conference West Division victory over visiting Benton Harbor Wednesday night.

In the second match of the night, the Vikings dominated Watervliet in a non-league affair, 52-27.

After a trio of wins from 145- to 160-pounds, the Tigers earned three straight victories to close to within 14-13 of the Vikings.

But Niles heavyweight Mike Gentry started a streak of eight straight wins to lead the Vikings to a 62-12 win.

Gentry pinned Jeffery Thomas in 20 seconds to give Niles a 20-12 lead.

After the Vikings (15-1) picked up a void at 103-pounds, Justin Jones, Mike Chester, Derrick Mills, Cole Allison, Colin Burandt and Casey Burandt all won by pins. Only the Burandt brothers’ opponents lasted more than a minute. None of Benton Harbor’s wrestlers made it out of the second period.

Robbie Legus got Niles off to a good start with a 16-1 technical fall at 145-pounds over Lamar Calahan.

The Vikings picked up a void at 152-pounds before Donte Stevens pinned Emanuel Sheperd in 40 seconds at 160-pounds.

Harold Johnson, Torrence Smith and Cameron Jenkins earned back-to-back-to-back victories for the Tigers to close to within a single point of Niles.

But following Gentry’s pin and Tyler Baber’s win by forfeit at 103-pounds, Niles got pins of 29, 55 and 29 seconds from Chester, Mills and Allison.

Jones also pinned his opponent at 112-pounds as he rallied from an early deficit to pick up the victory.

Colin and Casey Burandt pinned Cadion Isum and Alvin Dorsey in 2:55 and 1:59 respectively to conclude the match.

“Quite frankly we got outwrestled tonight,” Niles coach Todd Hesson said. “We were fortunate to have some forfeits mixed in there and kids like Cole, Colin and Robbie came through for us. Mike Chester stepped up and had a couple of wins for us. Mike Gentry did well. He beat a ranked kid tonight.

“Sometimes I think when you are 13-1, now 15-1, some things for granted. But I was very impressed with Watervliet. They had some good kids and they were well coached.”

Picking up wins against Watervliet were Chester, Allison, Casey Burandt, Colin Burandt, Legus, Fritz Findeisen, Alec Landon, James Asmus and Gentry.

Benton Harbor…12

Niles…62

103: Tyler Baber (N) wins by forfeit

112: Justin Jones (N) p. Jaleel McNeal, 5:14

119: Mike Chester (N) p. Tim Turney, :29

125: Derrick Mills (N) p. Isiah Thomas, :55

130: Cole Allison (N) p. Omar Kohn, :29

135: Colin Burandt (N) p. Cadion Isum, 2:55

140: Casey Burandt (N) p. Alvin Dorsey, 1:59

145: Robbie Legus (N) t.f. Lamar Calahan, 16-1

152: Fritz Findeisen (N) wins by forfeit

160: Donte Stevens (N) d. Emanuel Sheperd, 7-5

171: Harold Johnson (BH) p. Tyler Mead, :40

189: Torrence Smith d. Alec Landon, 17-15

215: Cameron Jenkins (BH) d. James Asmus, 13-4

285: Mike Gentry (N) p. Jeffery Thomas, :20

Watervliet…27

Niles…52

103: Brock Thumm (W) p. Tyler Baber, 4:33

112: Treven Sage (W) p. Justin Jones, 1:02

119: Mike Chester (N) p. Jake Adams, :41

125: Dan Isbrecht (W) p. Derrick Mills, 3:59

130: Cole Allison (N) p. Jared Goodrich, 5:06

135: Casey Burandt (N) wins by forfeit

140: Colin Burandt (N) p. Brad Martin, 3:03

145: Robbie Legus (N) p. Mike Napier, :59

152: Brett Thumm (W) d. Donte Stevens, 9-4

160: Fritz Findeisen (N) p. Freddy Little, 3:39

171: Brad Thomas (W) p. Tyler Mead, 3:16

189: Alec Landon (N) wins by forfeit

215: James Asmus (N) wins by forfeit

285: Mike Gentry (N) d. Jackson Dehaven. 10-1