Two county wrestlers reach career milestone during team districts
HILLSDALE COUNTY — The Jonesville and Reading wrestling teams faced off against their team district opponents on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Both teams failed to bring home a district trophy, but both teams had reasons to celebrate on Wednesday night as each team had a wrestler earn a career milestone.
The Reading Rangers wrestling team traveled to Hudson to take on the number one ranked team in their division. The Hudson tigers have some of the highest ranked wrestlers out of all D4 teams. It would be a tough task for the state ranked Rangers, with the Tigers earning major decision or pinfall victories in all but two matches.
The Tigers recorded six pinfalls against the Rangers. The Tigers also earned three major decision wins and one technical fall win. They also earned one void win. The Rangers got on the scoreboard with a pinfall win for Donivon Dangerfield at 215 pounds. At 285 pounds, Eathan Westfall got a chance to wrestle Tiger Aidan Raszkowski, earning a pinfall win after 32 seconds.
The pinfall was Eathan Westfall's 100th career pinfall. The senior has already accomplished his 100 career victories earlier this season. The Ranger maintains his undefeated status during Wednesday night duals and for this season. The Ranger was joined by his family to celebrate the milestone victory.
Westfall and the Rangers look to add to their hardware from this season with the individual district tournaments this Saturday, Feb. 11. They travel to Leslie High School for the individual district matches. Camden-Frontier and Morenci will also compete at Leslie.
The Jonesville Comets hosted their team district battles. The Comets faced Concord and Homer, with Concord matching up with the Comets first. The Comets defeated the Yellowjackets 60-12. The Comets won most of their matches via void, but Cooper Stevens earned a pinfall in the 285-pound weight class. Ben Colbert earned a pinfall win at 157 pounds. The Comets moved on to face the Homer Trojans in the district finals.
The Comets would lose to Homer in the district championship. Going 2-0 on the night was Max Smith, Carson Playford, Derek Ballinger, Austin Bowers and Evan McColley.
Against Homer, senior Derek Ballinger crossed a career milestone mark with his victory. Ballinger earned his 100th career win. Having already added a Big 8 title to his resume, the senior looks to lead his team to more milestones and hardware this weekend at the team individual district tournaments in bracket 31-4.
Their individual district tournament assignment will be held at Bronson High School on Feb. 11. Several other Big 8 teams will be in attendance. Matches start in the morning.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Derek Ballinger and Eathan Westfall earn career milestones during team wrestling district duals
