By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
KALAMAZOO—A pair of local wrestling teams was among the 16 squads that competed at the Horseshoe Classic at Comstock High School on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
Allegan had the best showing of those two teams, placing eighth with 92 points. Fennville placed 13th with 27.5 points.
Gull Lake easily took top honors with 267 points, followed by Harper Creek with 181.5 points and Buchanan with 157 points.
Treydan Vanderkooi and Rysten Williams led the charge for the Tigers, with each placing second in his respective weight class.
After receiving an opening-round bye in the championship round at 138 pounds, Vanderkooi won two straight matches via pin to earn a spot in the finals. He fell to Camden Miller of Gull Lake in the title match.
Williams, meanwhile, secured a pin in the opening round of the championship bracket before winning a 13-2 major decision in the quarterfinals and pinning Hudsonville’s Connor Brintnall in the semis. In the finals, Williams suffered a 7-3 loss to Buchanan’s Jackson Starnes.
Two other Allegan wrestlers—Alex Davis at 157 pounds and Josh Bruin at 190 pounds—locked up third-place finishes.
Fennville coach Steven Fries, meanwhile, saw three of the four wrestlers he brought to the tournament place.
Cory Alsip placed fifth at 138 pounds thanks to an 11-7 decision over Bellevue’s Jack Terpening in the fifth/sixth-place match.
Teammates Hugh Lowing and Jacob Williams each placed sixth. Lowing competed at 126 pounds, with Williams competing at 285.
Sunday, November 24, 2024
