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By Jack Walkden

Niles’ Sam Rucker and Dowagiac’s Cal Chapman powered their way to regional wrestling championships Saturday.

Rucker and Chapman were dominant in the Division 3 individual regional wrestling championships at Olivet.

Rucker (33-1) had a pin, a major decision and then beat Three Rivers’ Louis Smith 4-1 in overtime at 175 pounds. Chapman (38-2) had a pin, a decision and then pinned Brooklyn Columbia Central’s Dylan Boone in the 285-pound title match.

Three other area wrestlers were state qualifiers. Hayden Groth of Dowagiac (36-8) was third at 215 and Cameron White of Dowagiac (35-14) and Leland Payne  of Buchanan (43-4) were fourth at 144 and 157, respectively.

DIVISION 2

At Gull Lake

Quarterfinals

165: Jayce Curtis (Middleville Thornapple Kellogg d. Cale Myers (Edwardsburg) 17-10.

175: Sam Rucker (Niles) p. Josh Corts (Jackson Parma Western) 2:36.

Semifinals

175: Sam Rucker (Niles) m.d. over Tyler Block (Hamilton) 15-7.

Consolation Round 1

165: Titan Parker (Jackson Parma Western) d. Cale Myers (Edwardsburg) 7-5.

First Place

175: Sam Rucker (Niles) d. Louis Smith (Three Rivers) 4-1 (OT). 

DIVISION 3

At Olivet

Quarterfinals

113: Jacob Byrd (Adrian Madison) p. Markus Ottinger (Dowagiac) 3:51.

120: C.J. Miller (Williamston) t.f. over Holden Carrington (Buchanan) 20-2.

138: Aiden Durham (Grass Lake) t.f. over Aaron York (Buchanan) 17-2.

144: Cameron White (Dowagiac) m.d. over Hunter Czubachowski (Brooklyn Columbia Central) 10-0.

157: Leland Payne (Buchanan) m.d. over Nicholas Moore (Adrian Madison) 16-5.

215: Hayden Groth (Dowagiac) d. Joe LaSalle (Olivet) 7-4; Dallas Smith (Napoleon) d. Lucas Zeiger (Buchanan) 4-0.

285: Cal Chapman (Dowagiac) p. Jamarcus Goodloe (Napoleon) :20; Anthony Heinritz (Williamston) p. Drew McKee (Brandywine) 1:42.

Semifinals

144: Caden Brown (Hopkins) d. Cameron White (Dowagiac) 4-1.

157: Hawk Harding (Williamston) d. Leland Payne (Buchanan) 8-5.

215: John Petersen (Hillsdale) p. Hayden Groth (Dowagiac) 2:32.

285: Cal Chapman (Dowagiac) d. Anthony Heinritz (Williamston) 7-3.

Consolation Round 1

113: Sullivan Morgan (Allegan) m.d. over Markus Ottinger (Dowagiac) 10-1.

120: Keegan Gray (Onsted) p. Holden Carrington (Buchanan) 1:46.

138: Luke Wedge (Allegan) p. Aaron York (Buchanan) 2:37.

215: Trever Gritzmaker (Adrian Madison) p. Lucas Zeiger (Buchanan) 2:44.

285: Jamarcus Goodloe (Napoleon) m.d. over Drew McKee (Brandywine) 16-3.

Consolation semifinals

144: Cameron White (Dowagiac) d. Zayden Rowland (South Haven) 4-2.

157: Leland Payne (Buchanan) p. Bryce Beadenkopf (Michigan Center) :43.

215: Hayden Groth (Dowagiac) p. Trever Gritzmaker (Adrian Madison) 2:42.

Third Place

144: Treydan Vanderkooi (Allegan) d. Cameron White (Dowagiac) 8-2.

157: Ryan Sparks (Allegan) d. Leland Payne (Buchanan) 8-5 (OT).

215: Hayden Groth (Dowagiac) d. Dallas Smith (Napoleon) 6-1.

First Place

285: Cal Chapman (Dowagiac) p. Dylan Boone (Brooklyn Columbia Central) 2:28.

DIVISION 4

At Martin

Quarterfinals

165: Alan Wegner (Cassopolis) p. Boston Byers (Bellevue) 3:38.

Semifinals

165: Brody Mead (Decatur) p. Alan Wegner (Cassopolis) 5:59.

Consolation semifinals

165: Colton Colingsworth (Gobles) p. Alan Wegner (Cassopolis) 4:41.