Vikings, Eddies dominate conference opponents
Published 8:15 am Friday, January 19, 2018
- Edwardsburg’s Jacob Andrina tries to turn Three Rivers’ Mike Draper for back points Wednesday night. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)
EDWARDSBURG — Niles and Edwardsburg went undefeated in conference wrestling matches Wednesday.
The Vikings pounded Portage Northern 67-10 in SMAC West Division action, while the Eddies swept Wolverine Conference foes Three Rivers and Sturgis.
The Eddies defeated the Wildcats 44-27 and the Trojans 57-18.
The Dowagiac wrestling team split a pair of Wolverine Conference matches Wednesday.
The Chieftains lost to Sturgis 36-28, but rebounded to knock off Three Rivers 50-30.
Dowagiac’s Xander Keller scores back points against Sturgis’ Jeremy Munoz at 140 pounds. (Leader photo/SCOTT NOVAK)
Niles wrestling
The Vikings improved to 12-1 and remained undefeated in SMAC West Division matches following its win at Portage Northern.
Niles had little trouble with the Huskies, as it won 12 of the 14 matches, including nine by pins, one by technical fall and two by major decision (eight or more points).
“We had a solid night of wrestling,” Niles coach Todd Hesson said. “Javond Ball and Austin Reid are really starting to put things together on the mat. Our conditioning is coming along. We just need to find the right balance of when the force things and when to take different technique as they come along.”
Winning by pin were Jamison Zimmerman (103), Ryan Franco (119), Austin Reid (135), Robert Glover (145), Robert Buckland (152), Davin Simpson (160), Dayton Smith (171), Kenneth Krempetz (215) and Brian Soto (285).
Niles faces two strong tests over the weekend as it competes in the Lakeshore Super Duals beginning at noon, and then heads to Michigan State University to wrestle Whitehall in East Lansing on Sunday.
Edwardsburg wrestling
The Eddies won the battle of Wolverine Conference unbeatens with ease over Sturgis.
Edwardsburg opened the evening with a dual against Three Rivers.
“I thought last night was a good night for Edwardsburg wrestling,” Edwardsburg coach Jesse Becraft said. “We got to showcase some youth wrestlers before the duals, honored our seniors before our last home duals. I felt we wrestled a little flat against Three Rivers, but then really stepped it up against Sturgis, who was previously undefeated in the conference. All in all, it was a very good night for us.”
Winning two matches on the night were Jacob Reece (119), Caden Reece (125), Jackson Hoover (130), Nick Bradley (145/152), Dillon Hursh (160), Jacob Andrina (171) and Drew Bidwell (189).
Dowagiac wrestling
Winning two matches on the night for Dowagiac were Kody Walker (119), Nick Turnbow (152), Lamberto Paredes (160) and Justin Lyle (171).
Dowagiac is now 18-6 overall and 5-2 in conference duals.
