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5 Braves to state finals

CHARLEVOIX — Gladstone qualified five wrestlers for the Division 3 state individual finals after regional competition Saturday at Charlevoix.

Adam Bruce (135) led the way with a second-place regional finish. Austin Demeuse (171) and Mason Frederick (285) each placed third and freshman Lane Matzke (103) and Jared Demeuse (215) each placed fourth.

“We took five kids last year to the state finals,” Gladstone coach Dan Seronko said. “I felt we could have taken more kids this year. We had a bad second round. But overall I’m pleased. We are excited to go down to The Palace and hopefully take some placers back home with us.”

Bruce decisioned Caro’s Garrett Stoick 2-0 and decisioned Caro’s Patrick Ford 6-3 before dropping an 8-4 decision in the title match to unbeaten Nolan Saxton of Remus Chippewa Hills.

“He had an excellent day,” Seronko said about Bruce. “He’s a talented young wrestler. (Being competitive) against the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state, I’m sure it gives Adam confidence to place in the states this year.”

Jared Demeuse and Frederick each defeated No. 1 seeds in their respective weight classes.

Demeuse, who was pinned by Iron Mountain’s Braydon Fitzpatrick at 2:56 in the third-place match, pinned No. 1 seed Toby Niedzwiecki of Freeland at 5:00 in his first match.

In his first match, Frederick defeated No. 1 seed Zac Stickler of Clare with a pin at :21. Frederick also pinned Negaunee’s Michael Pizziola at 3:22 in the third-place match.

Matzke, a freshman, had another solid day for the Braves with his fourth-place finish.

“Lane’s been putting in extra practice time,” Seronko said. “Lane poured it on to place second in the district.

“We didn’t expect him to go to state, but he kept pouring it on. It’s a great time for him to step up in the post season.”

Austin Demeuse decisioned Remus-Chippewa Hills’ Robert Granberry 5-0 in the third-place match at 171.

Gladstone’s Cole Hanson (130) and Vadym Torvinen (119) each posted 1-2 records in the regional and Brody Sanville (140) was 0-2.

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