ESCANABA — The Escanaba wrestlers began their season on a positive note here Saturday, posting three victories in the Elks Invitational round-robin tournament.

Esky romped past Negaunee 66-6, then defeated Iron Mountain 45-32 and Gladstone 42-38.

The tourney, which normally draws 15 or more schools, was limited to four this time due to COVID-19. The event also followed a dual meet rather than its traditional team format.

Brodey Bevins pinned Gladstone’s Owen Matton in 50 seconds in the 152-pound match to give the Eskymos a 30-20 lead.

Esky then took forfeits in the next two weight classes for an insurmountable 42-20 advantage.

Cole Potier (189), Peter Noblet (215) and Brett Boudreau then recorded pins to bring the Braves within the final four-point margin.

“We were fighting all day,” said Esky coach Jeff Wright. “They’re tough. They won a lot of head-to-head matches, and it was the same thing with Iron Mountain. Last year, they (Mountaineers) ended with six guys. They have more guys out this year.”

Gladstone led 20-6 after Hunter Solis (130) took a 5-2 decision from Adam Reimer.

Esky then began its comeback in the 135 bout in which Collin Arnt pinned Logan Cox in 61 seconds for his third victory.

“This is a great start to Collin’s senior season,” said Wright. “It feels great to be back and the kids are excited to be back. They worked since last March to be here. Right now it feels more like December wrestling than mid-February. We have to improve as much as we can. It’s back to work on Monday.”

The Eskymos were clinging to a 33-32 lead over Iron Mountain after the 215 match after Jarret Olson got pinned by Caleb Burkland in 84 seconds.

Esky secured the decision with a forfeit at 285 before Eli Gardner (103) pinned Alex Wilson in 38 seconds.

Bevins and Burkland won three matches apiece by pin.

Iron Mountain overcame a 19-6 deficit in its opener to defeat Gladstone 48-31.

Evan Haferkorn (135) brought the Mountaineers within 19-12 by pinning Cox at 2:31.

Iron Mountain surged ahead with forfeits at 140 and 145 and Preston Roberts (152) made it 30-19 by pinning Owen Mattonen in 32 seconds.

The Mountaineers added two forfeit victories for an insurmountable 42-18 advantage before Gladstone took a forfeit at 189.

Burkland then pinned Noblet 36 seconds into the 215 match.

“This is a nice way for us to start our season,” said Mountaineers’ coach Cory McLaren. “To start 2-1 after going 3-18 last year, I’ll take it. These guys are all experienced. Escanaba has physically controlled us every time. Keeping it close today was huge. It was nice to see everybody again and everyone on our team got at least one match. It’s hard to keep kids interested when everything gets extended.”

Negaunee’s Finn Helppi (171) came from five points down to squeeze past Esky’s Kahler Geyer 6-5 and pinned Iron Mountain’s Jon Carrion.

Esky visits Kingsford for a quadrangular meet Thursday and Gladstone hosts the Flivvers, Westwood and Marquette Saturday.

Escanaba Elks Invitational

Escanaba 66, Negaunee 6

103 — Gardner, E, forfeit

119 — Britton, E, forfeit

125 — DeGrand, E, forfeit

130 — Reimer, E, pinned Lauer, 1:01

135 — Arnt, E, pinned J. McCollum, 1:14

140 — Schouten, N, dec. Brock, 9-3

145 — Lawson, E, forfeit

152 — Bevins, E, pinned Reno, :59

160 — Vizineau, E, pinned Prusi, 1:46

171 — Helppi, N, dec. Geyer, 6-5

189 — Pendergraft, E, pinned T. McCollum, 1:13

215 — Olsen, E, pinned Keough, 1:22

285 — Carlson, E, pinned Van Buren, 1:58

Iron Mountain 48, Gladstone 31

103 — Terrien, G, dec. Wilson, 4-0

112 — Hansen, G, pinned Hruska, :57

119 — Lewis, IM, forfeit

125 — A. Solis, G, dec. McGuire, 2-0 OT

130 — H. Solis, G, forfeit

135 — Haferkorn, IM, pinned Cox, 2:31

140 — Walstrom, IM, forfeit

145 — P. Stroud, IM, forfeit

152 — Roberts, IM, pinned Mattonen, :32

160 — Manier, IM, forfeit

171 — Carrion, IM, forfeit

189 — Potier, G, forfeit

215 — Burklund, IM, pinned Noblet, :36

285 — Boudreau, G, forfeit

Escanaba 45, Iron Mountain 32

112 — Hruska, IM, forfeit

119 — Lewis, IM, pinned Britton, 3:13

125 — McGuire, IM, dec. DeGrand, 9-1

130 — Reimer, E, forfeit

135 — Arnt, E, dec. Haferkorn, 7-2

140 — Walstrom, IM, pinned Viau, 1:50

145 — P. Stroud, IM, dec. Lawson, 10-0

152 — Bevins, E, pinned Roberts, 1:48

160 — F. Stroud, IM, pinned Visineau, 1:25

171 — Geyer, E, pinned Carrion, 3:25

189 — Pendergraft, E, forfeit

215 — Burklund, IM, pinned Olsen, 1:24

285 — Carlson, E, forfeit

103 — Gardner, E, pinned Wilson, :38

Gladstone 42, Negaunee 30

112 — Harris, G, forfeit

125 — A. Solis, G, forfeit

130 — H. Solis, G, pinned Lauer, :17

135 — J. McCollum, IM, pinned Cox, 1:01

145 — Schouten, IM, forfeit

152 — Reno, N, pinned Mattonen, 1:32

160 — Prusi, N, forfeit

171 — Helppi, N, forfeit

189 — Potier, G, pinned T. McCollum, 1:26

215 — Noblet, G, pinned Van Buren, :21

285 — Boudreau, IM, forfeit

103 — Terrian, IM, forfeit

Escanaba 42, Gladstone 38

103 — Hansen, G, tech fall over Gardner, 15-0 (3:36)

112 — Terrien, G, forfeit

119 — Britton, E, forfeit

125 — A. Solis, G, pinned DeGrand, 1:18

130 — H. Solis, G, dec. Reimer, 5-2

135 — Arnt, E, pinned Cox, 1:01

140 — Viau, E, forfeit

145 — Lawson, E, forfeit

152 — Bevins, E, pinned Mattonen, :50

160 — Vizineau, E, forfeit

171 — Geyer, E, forfeit

189 — Potier, G, Pendergraft, 5:34

215 — Noblet, G, pinned Olsen, 1:51

285 — Boudreau, G, pinned Carlson, 2:59

Iron Mountain 56, Negaunee 24

119 — McGuire, IM, forfeit

125 — Lewis, IM, forfeit

130 — Lauer, N, forfeit

135 — Haferkorn, IM, pinned J. McCollum, 2:27

140 — Walstrom, IM, dec. Schouten, 3-1

145 — P. Stroud, IM, forfeit

152 — Kivi, IM, pinned Reno

160 — Manier, IM, pinned Prusi

171 — Helppi, N, pinned Carrion

215 — Burklund, IM, pinned T. McCollum, :46

285 — Van Buren, N, forfeit

103 — Wilson, IM, forfeit

112 — Hruska, IM, forfeit