DETROIT — Niles senior Austin Franco became a four-time all-state wrestler when he advanced to today’s Division 2 state championship match at 119 pounds at Ford Field.

Franco, who is 43-0, pinned Nick May of Kenowa Hills in 1:06 in the opening round, decisioned John Sosa of Gaylord 8-2 in the quarterfinals and pinned Eric Pawlaczyk of Imlay City in 1:06 in the semifinals.

Franco will wrestle Caleb Teague (48-4) of Goodrich for the state championship when finals begin at 3 p.m. Saturday.

 

Division 3

Dowagiac senior Kody Walker ended his career at 47-8 after he went 1-2 at 119 pounds Friday.

Walker lost his first match, but rebounded to defeat Anderson Strunk of Algonac 4-3 in the first round of consolation.

He was eliminated in the second round of consolation 2-1 by Jonathon White of Dundee.

Justin Lyle (41-14) went 0-2 at 189 pounds.

 

Division 2

Edwardsburg’s Nick Bradley won his first two matches at 145 pounds before falling in the championship semifinals in sudden victory 3-1 to Austin Boone of Lowell.

Bradley (31-4) wrestled Saturday morning in the consolations and is an all-state wrestler.

The Eddies’ Noah Tinkham (27-11), was 1-2 at 112, Jacob Reece (30-12) 1-2 at 119 and Jackson Hoover (37-8) was 1-2 at 130.

Niles’ Jamison Zimmerman (35-12) will wrestle for all-state after going 2-1 on Friday.

Zimmerman won 2-0 over Corbin Hallberg of Ortonville-Brandon in the opening round and won by major decision over Trevor Marsman of Cedar Springs 15-5 in the quarterfinals.

He was defeated by Lakeshore’s Riley Bettich in the semifinals.

All other Niles wrestlers have been eliminated.

Robert Glover (32-9) went 1-2 at 145, Davin Simpson (28-11) went 1-2 at 171, Dayton Smith (36-11) went 1-2 at 171, Dawson Bruckner (33-13) went 1-2 at 189 and Brian Sota (29-13) went 0-2 at 285.

 

Division 4

Brandywine’s Hunter Heath won his opening round match at 112 with a pin of Gabe Fielder of Durand Area in 2:37, but dropped his next two matches and was eliminated.