Clare wrestling has seven boys, three girls qualify for regional action

By BEN MURPHY

Cleaver Sports Writer

The Clare wrestling team sent their boys to a Division 3 district individual tournament at Shepherd on Saturday. The Pioneers had quite the showing, getting seven to finish in the top four, sending them to the regional tournament.

Bryson Hernandez is a district champion in the 144 weight class. He was a perfect 3-0 on the day, starting with a first period pin over Myles McCarthy of Reed City. In the semis he won on a 9-2 decision on Hart’s Logan Jorissen and in the championship he defeated Karson Yancer of Meridian in an 18-9 major decision.

Devin Wheeler took second in 120. He had a 6-3 decision win over Hart’s Caden VanGelderen and a 10-4 decision win over Aiden Schaner, also from Hart, but he lost in the championship bout to Ethan Palmateer of Gladwin after getting pinned in the second.

Logan Carstensen also took second, in the 126 weight class. He went 3-1 on the day, including a 3-1 decision win over Cruz Balcirak of Gladwin in the semi-finals.

Ryan Moreno added another second place finish in 132. His semi-final win was a 12-9 decision over Halen Boos of Hart. His loss in the finals was an 8-1 decision to Micah Curtiss of Shepherd.

Kyle McGraw (106) was able to place third, going 3-1 on the day. In his third place bout he had a 16-1 tech fall win over Alex Sampson of Meridian.

Colin Howitt (150) took fourth place with a 2-2 record. His big win came over Isaiah Hoffman of Pinconning in a 6-2 decision in the blood round.

Otis Fry (165) was also fourth to punch his regional ticket. He had three wins and two losses on the day, including a hard-fought 4-3 decision over Canyon Godfrey of Alma in the blood round.

Clavin Clark (190), Cooper Weissand (190), Jayden Jordan (106), Chad Proctor (132), Dane Kruskamp (157) and Marek Michalski (157) all competed as well, but were unable to place.

The Lady Pioneers competed in their individual district on Sunday in Gaylord. They had three punch their regional tickets.

AnnMarie Green is a district champion in the 235 weight class. She had a win the semi-finals over Aubree Croasdell of Escanaba in a first period pin. In her championship match, the took on Abigayle Dahl of Traverse City West. She pinned her in the first period, just 20 seconds into the match.

Savannah Buzzelli took second place in the 190 weight class. She lost a close 3-2 decision to Chloe Waterman of Whittemore-Prescott in the championship match.

Kiley Methner will also move on in 170, thanks to her fourth place finish. Her big win came over Paisley Suba of Traverse City Central in a 15-5 major decision.

Kaedence Phelps (115) and Addisyn Ames (140) both competed as well, but were unable to place.

The boys will head to Hart on Saturday for their regional while the girls will do battle on Sunday in Cadillac.

Clare did have its team season come to an end on Thursday. In their district championship match with Chippewa Hills, they came up short 48-31. They reached the finals thanks to a 41-33 win over Gladwin earlier in the day.