At my job, there is nothing better than following a team to the state finals.

That is unless you get two teams.

Niles and Dowagiac doubled my pleasure this weekend as I head to Kalamazoo for the Division 2 and Division 3 wrestling quarterfinals at Wings Stadium.

I have always enjoyed the team tournament. I loved traveling to Battle Creek year after year to cover our teams as they attempted to win state championships.

I did not like it when the Michigan High School Athletic Association decided to move it to Central Michigan University for two years.

I only attended one of those two years and did not enjoy the experience at all.

So, I was a little more than excited when the MHSAA decided to move it back our way to Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo.

The venue is perfect for the team competition and the raised platform on which the teams wrestle gives a spectacular view to both the fans and the media.

Dowagiac was the lone representative from our area last season in the quarterfinals.

The Chieftains surprised everyone by winning both the district and regional titles in only the third season of rebuilding under coach Colin Burandt.

No one is surprised this year that the Chieftains are headed back to Kalamazoo and the state quarterfinals.

Niles is a perennial state power and has flourished under the direction of coach Todd Hesson.

The Vikings will be making their fifth trip to the quarterfinals in the last seven years.

Niles has never lost a quarterfinals match.

Both the Vikings and the Chieftains have their work cut out for them as they were given the No. 7 seed in their respective divisions.

That means Niles will have to take out No. 2 Richmond, while Dowagiac will have to defeat No. 2 Dundee Friday night in order to advance to Saturday’s semifinals.

Regardless of the outcome on Friday, both teams can be extremely proud of what they have accomplished this season.

I would enjoy nothing more than to have to make two trips to Kalamazoo this weekend to cover wrestling. I am hoping the fans from both communities are prepared to do the same.

I want to see large numbers of Dowagiac and Niles wrestling fans there to support both teams as they compete. Their combined forces could give the two teams quite an advantage emotionally.

So, let us put aside any differences you made have as Chieftains and Vikings fans for one weekend. It could turn out to be a lot of fun cheering side-by-side for “our” teams as they chase their dreams of being a state champion.

Scott Novak is sports editor for Leader Publications. He can be reached at scott.novak@leaderpub.com