By TOM NYHUIS

Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Heading into Wednesday evening’s Lakeland Conference wrestling action at Cassopolis, the Buchanan Bucks were coming in as one of two teams still undefeated in league action with Berrien Springs being the other.

At the end of the night, the Bucks would return home with their winning record intact and will finish with no less than a share of the conference title, after coming away with a pair of runaway victories.

As for the Shamrocks, they were sent home with a pair of losses after the Bucks grabbed a 40-16 win over Berrien and blanked Cassopolis 75-0.

Brandywine opened its night with a 51-21 win over the Rangers and then the Bobcats edged out a 37-36 win over Berrien Springs.

Brandywine dedicated its efforts Wednesday night to Chase Molica’s dad, who died in a ice fishing accident over the weekend.

“I told the kids he was a loyal fan and a dedicated Brandywine fan,” Brandywine coach Rex Pomranka said.

The Bobcat-Shamrock dual came down to the final match of the night. Brandywine held a 36-30 lead with Ralphie Sater up against Skyler Parsons. Parsons picked up the win with a pin of Sater at 2:41 and the match finished in a 36-36 tie.

The Bobcats scored the win as the result of the first criteria tiebreaker, giving Brandywine the one point needed for the win.

“It was an exciting match,” Pomranka said. “It was a fun one to be in.”

In the opening match, it was Buchanan over Berrien Springs 40-16 and in its second match of the night it was the Bucks blanking Cassopolis 75-0.

As in previous matches the Bucks depended on their upper weight wrestlers to build a lead and Wednesday was no different but Buchanan coach Frank Mucha was surprised by a couple of wins that they did get.

“Dustan Craig really came through for us in a big way as did Jacob Ferris. Jacob is one of our best going up against their best and we squeezed out a close victory there, which really set the table and kept the ball rolling,” he said.

Buchanan had already built up a 18-0 lead which began with a 2-1 decision win by T.J. Miller to open the evenings excitement followed by a first period pin by Adam Byrdak and John Kuntz. Gage Hutchison followed his teammates pulling out a 4-3 decision win.

The Bucks continued to hold the Shamrocks’ score less with Ferris’ 7-4 victory. Mack Green continued his winning ways with a 9-6 decision and Craig scored a two point reversal as time came to an end in the third period for a 5-4 victory.

Starting the lightweights, Taylor Glavin picked up a pin at 103 and the Bucks held a commanding 33-0 advantage. Berrien Springs’ first points came at 112 as Mike Huspen took a 13-0 win over Josh Johnson.

Other Buchanan winners in the match were Alex Eger’ 6-0 decision and Alex Darmos’ 12-1 win.

Buchanan will look to finish the conference portion of their schedule out remaining undefeated as they take on Brandywine next Wednesday.

“You can throw out the records next week because when the Bucks and the Bobcats get together it is always a friendly rivalry. But when we’re on the mats and the whistle blows and we start the match, we don’t like each other to well. It will be a fun match to watch and coach,” Mucha said.

Berrien Springs…16
Buchanan…40
103: Taylor Glavin (B) p. Yvonne Wells (BS) 3:02
112: Mike Huspen (BS) d. Josh Johnson (B) 13-0
119: Alex Eger (B) d. Sonny Grubb (BS) 6-0
125: Damon Davidson (BS) d. Andy Ketchum (B) 6-4
130: D.J. Walter (BS) p. Patrick Wheetly (B) 5:00
135: Alex Darmos (B) d. Reuben Zapotas (BS) 12-1
140: P.J. Holiday (BS) d. Jeff Mucha (B) 8-7
145: T.J. Miller (B) d. Skyler Parson (BS) 2-1
152: Adam Byrdak (B) p. Lovi Davis (BS) 1:32
160: John Kuntz (B) p. Alex Antinett (BS) :45
171: Gage Hutchison (B) d. Jonny Hogre (BS) 4-3
189: Jacob Ferris (B) d. Dustin Bushouse (BS) 7-4
215: Dustan Craig (B) d. Joe Collard (BS) 5-4

Buchanan…75
Cassopolis…0
103: Taylor Glavin wins by forfeit
112: Josh Johnson (B) d. Shauntrell Gilliam (C) 10-9
119: Alex Eger (B) wins by forfeit
125: Andy Ketchum (B) p. Jesse Richey (C) 1:13
130: Patrick Wheetly (B) d. Tyler Butrick (C) 14-9
135: Alex Darmos (B) d. Patrick Allen (C) 3-0
140: Jeff Mucha (B) p. Brethe Danzy (C) 1:35
145: T.J. Miller (B) wins by forfeit
152: Adam Byrdak (B) wins by forfeit
160: John Kuntz (B) p. Devin Roberts (C) :52
171: Gage Hutchison (B) p. Jaylin Lawson (C) 1:23
189: Jacob Ferris (B) p. Dominic Forbes (C) :37
215: Mack Green (B) p. J.D. Butrick (C) :13
285: Dustan Craig (B) wins by forfeit

Brandywine…51
Cassopolis…21
103: Shauntrell Gilliam (C) p. Jeff Cornell 3:53
112: Arthur Morris (B) wins by forfeit
119: Jimmie Wright (B) wins by forfeit
125: Chanc Ravish (B) p. Josh McCoy 5:32
130: Tyler Butrick (C) p. Nick Wright 3:07
135: Robert Nickless (B) d. Patrick Allen 9-2
140: Ralph Sater (B) p. Bretho Danzy 1:28
145: Matt Bricker (B) wins by forfeit
152: Alex Humphrey (B) wins by forfeit
160: Shane Desrosiers (B) p. Devin Roberts 2:45
171: Jaylin Lawson (C) p. Michael Lewark 1:56
189: Dominic Forbes (C) d. A.J. Shell 4-3
215: Bryan Lee (B) p. J.D. Butrick 0:56
285: Void

Brandywine…37
Berrien Springs…36
103: Jeff Cornell (Br) p. Yvonne Wells 1:56
112: Mike Huspen (BS) d. Arthur Morris 9-1
119: Jimmie Wright (Br) p. Sonny Gribb 1:18
125: Chanc Ravish (Br) d. Damon Davidson 9-3
130: Justin Batman (Br) d. D.J. Walter 0:33
135: Robert Nickless (Br) p. Ruben Zapata 0:41
140: P.J. Holiday (BS) d. Adam Earls 14-7
145: Skyler Parsons (BS) p. Ralph Sater 2:41
152: Matt Bricker (Br) p. Levi Davis 1:36
160: Alex Humphrey (Br) d. Alex Anthony 8-6
171: Johnny Moore (BS) p. Shane Desrosiers 5:43
189: Dustin Bushouse (BS) p. A.J. Shell 0:18
215: Josh Kruk (BS) p. Bryan Lee 3:03
285: Joe Collard (BS) wins by forfeit