The Niles wrestling team advanced seven out of its 11 regional qualifiers to the MHSAA Individual Finals Feb. 27-March 1 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Edwardsburg advanced a pair of wrestlers, including Division 2 Regional champion Michael Higley at 103-pounds.

Brandywine, Buchanan, Cassopolis and Dowagiac each advanced one wrestler.

 

Division 2

Higley decisioned Tecumseh’s Rickey Azelton 10-3 to win the championship at Mason.

Moving on for the Vikings were regional runners-up Darek Bullock-Mills, Noah Hall and Warren Smith. Also advancing were Andrew Flick (third), Brendon Meek (third), Josh Dayhuff (third) and Quintin Smith (fourth).

Bullock-Mills lost a 2-0 decision to Zeke Breuinger of Dexter at 130, Noah Hanau of Lakeshore defeated Hall 7-1 at 135 and Jake Klingaman of Jackson-Northwest won by technical fall (15-0) over Smith.

Dustin Vires was fourth at 125.

 

Division 3

Dowagiac’s Tristan Howard finished third at 285 and Buchanan’s Alex Smith was fourth at 171 at Lake Odessa.

 

Division 4

Brandywine’s Cory Katterheinrich was a runner-up at 285.

Katterheinrich was pinned by Decatur’s Logan Kennedy in 3:20 at Climax-Scotts.

Cassopolis’ Tymari Brown finished fourth at 189.