EUP teams compete at UP Wrestling Championships

John Vrancic
·4 min read

MARQUETTE — Podium finishes in the Upper Peninsula Wrestling Championships were few and far between for area athletes here Saturday.

Low numbers hindered the Eastern U.P. teams which combined to place five among the top five finishers in their respective weight divisions.

Gladstone was crowned champion for the first time in five years with 212 points, followed by Iron Mountain 173 1/2, three-time defending champ Escanaba 155 1/2, Bark River-Harris 144 and Kingsford 136.

Newberry took 10th with 47 points, edging Munising and St. Ignace by one point. Sault High scored 24 1/2.

“We fought hard,” said Newberry coach Bob Bowler. “We took six guys over here today and have been working at making weight. We didn’t do too bad for the number of kids we had. We’re glad to get this tournament in. We’re still recovering from injuries. This was a good preview of what we’ll probably see at (Division 4) districts.”

Newberry sophomore Hayden O’Neil pinned St. Ignace sophomore Jax Lipnitz 47 seconds into the third-place bout at 135 pounds.

“It went pretty good overall,” he said. “I probably could have done a little better, but I wrestled hard. I put a lot of effort in practice and today’s meet. I need to work on my confidence. Although, I think this is a confidence builder going forward. First takedowns are very important for me right now. I just have to work harder.”

Newberry senior Mathias Miller (285) dropped a 5-3 decision to Negaunee Brayden Dunstan in another third-place match.

Sault HIgh wresters are pictured at the UP Championship tournament in Marquette. The Sault team includes, front row, from left to right: Tommy Vassar, Will Ohman, Owen Clayton, and assistant coach Brendin Cryderman; back row, from left: head coach Cinto Arreola, Cody Russo, Robert Allard, Sawyer Kuenzer. Missing from photo:: Chase Tracey and Calvin Aldrich.

“I started kind of slow and went downhill,” said Miller. “I didn’t get to do the moves I wanted. I’m a smaller heavyweight and need to get a little faster on my feet. Technique is a big part of it. I think I need to be more confident and go for it.”

Sault sophomore Wiiliam Ohman (130) placed third and St. Ignace senior Jonathan Litzner (125) and sophomore Jax Lipnitz (135) took fourth.

Ohman defeated Kingsford freshman Reed Degroot by technical fall (15-0) in a third-place match.

Litzner got pinned in 53 seconds by Iron Mountain sophomore Tyler Winch in another third-place bout.

Marquette sophomore Wyatt Kuhlman (160) was named Most Valuable Wrestler, pinning BR-H senior Wyatt Raab five minutes, 28 seconds into the championship match.

Area teams resume in Wednesday’s Straits Area Conference meet at Pellston, then travel to Gaylord for Saturday’s Northern Michigan Championships.

U.P. Wrestling Championships

At Marquette

Gladstone 212, Iron Mountain 173 1/2, Escanaba 155 1/2, Bark River-Harris 144, Kingsford 136, Marquette 121, Negaunee 98, Ishpeming 94, Manistique 52, Newberry 47, Munising and St. Ignace 46, Westwood 39, Gwinn 26, Sault Ste. Marie 24 1/2, Menominee 13, Rudyard 0.

130 — A. Solis, Glad, tech fall over DeGrand, E, 16-0; 3, Ohman, S; 4, Degroot, K; 5, D. Manier, IM.

135 — Wilson, Ish, pinned H. Solis, 3:10; 3, O’Neil, New; 4, Lipnitz, SI; 5, Turchin, E.

140 — Bowerman, Mun, pinn I. Manier, IM, 5:57; 3, Reimer, E; 4, Messersmith, BR-H; 5, Maki, K.

145 — Wilcox, K, dec. D. Raab, BR-H, 4-3; 3, Haferkorn, IM; 4, Hyatt, Ish; 5, Ketzenberger, Mqt.

152 — P. Stroud, IM, tech fall over Berry, Mstq, 15-0; 3, Prusi, Neg; 4, Werkheiser, SI; 5, Gagne, BR-H.

160 — Kuhlman, Mqt, pinned W. Raab, BR-H, 5:28; 3, Kivi, IM; 4, Primley-Nerat, Men; 5, Sargent, Glad.

171 — Peterson, K, pinned F. Stroud, IM, 1:40; 3, C. Potier, Glad; 4, Mead, Mqt; 5, McCollum, Neg.

189 — Delongchamp, Ish, pinned Olsen, E, 2:30; 3, Kroll, Mqt; 4, Dalten, Gw; 5, Keough, Neg.

215 — H. Potier, Glad, dec. Allgeyer, BR-H, 11-7; 3, Rouse, K; 4, VanBuren, Neg; 5, Harvala, WW.

285 — Boudreau, Glad, pinned, Ricker, Mqt, 3:01; 3, Dunstan, Neg; 4, Miller, New; 5, Wilson, K.

103 — Wilson, IM, pinned Westman, K, :57; 3, Smith, BR-H; 4, Weber, Mstq; 5, Wilson, Ish.

112 — Terrian, Glad, dec. Krueger, E, 6-4; 3, Corrigan, BR-H; 4, Espinoza, Neg; 5, Williams, WW.

119 — Hansen, Glad, dec. McGuire, IM, 4-0; 3, Gardner, E; 4, Hayes, Mstq; 5, Helppi, Neg.

125 — Brazeau, Glad, pinned McInerney, E, :42; 3, Winch, IM; 4, Litzner, SI; 5, Whitehead, Mun.

This article originally appeared on The Sault News: EUP teams compete at UP Wrestling Championships