STEVENSVILLE — The Niles wrestling team braved the cold and snow Wednesday night and travelled to Stevensville to take on their arch-nemesis, the Lakeshore Lancers, in a Big 16 West Division showdown on the mat.

The No. 3-ranked Vikings dispatched the struggling Lancers 46-19 in the meet; scoring five pin-fall victories in the process.

Despite the victory, Niles grappling Coach Todd Hesson was not overly pleased with his team’s performance on the evening.

“We took things for granted and this is the time of year where we can’t do things like that. We flat out got out-wrestled in some weight classes. We need to get better, coaches included, and tonight needs to be a wake-up call. The post season is one week away and I can tell you these guys (Lakeshore) will be ready. We need to be too,” Hesson said.

Andrew Flick (103), Josh Dayhuff (119), Noah Hall (130), Sean Craig (171), and Cody Thornton (189) all scored pin-fall victories, while Brendon Meek (112), Darek Bullock-Mills (135) and Warren Smith (140) all picked decision wins for the Vikings in the winning effort.

Patrick Blommel (125) and Noah Hanau (140) each won via pin for the Lancers.

 

Niles will now set its sights on defending its Greater Berrien County Invitational championship Saturday in St. Joseph.

Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m.

 

Niles — 46

Lakeshore — 19

103: Andrew Flick (N) p. Austi DeFries, 3:10; 112: Brendon Meek (N) d. Brandon Arend, 7-5; 119: Josh Dayhuff (N) p. Nathan Weber, 2:27; 125: Patrick Blommel (L) p. Mitchell Findelsen, :55; 130: Noah Hall (N) p. Nathan Seawood, 1:54; 135: Darek Bullock-Mills (N) d. Robert Dente, 6-3; 140: Noah Hanau (L) p. Adam Cole, :29; 145: Warren Smith (N) d. Kyle Lindley, 13-8; 152: Dustin Clapp (L) d. Quintin Smith, 8-5; 160: Gunnar Harrison (L) d. Fred Kemp, 10-2; 171: Sean Craig (N) p. Jaylen Green, 3:01; 189: Cody Thornton (N) p. Kain Blair, 2:44; 215: Ted Jakowiak (N) d. Isaac Wier, 20-7; 285: Wyatt Thorton (N) d. Bryce Robinson, 7-4