Historic season for area grapplers
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ESCANABA -- It was a historical wrestling season for Bark River-Harris, to say the least.
Not only did the Broncos defend their Division 4 team district title, but they also added their first regional championship, enabling them to reach the state quarterfinals for the first time.
The Broncos sent seven to the individual state finals at Grand Rapids where five of them placed.
They entered the team state quarterfinals as the No. 6 seed March 30 at Kalamazoo, where they dropped a 54-20 to No. 3 New Lothrop.
"I thought we had a real good showing in the individual and team state tournaments," said coach Joe Racicot. "Some of the coaches were discussing we were the first ones from the Upper Peninsula to be seeded higher than eight, and some thought we should have been seeded fourth. To be even in the same conversation with these teams was a huge compliment to our kids. I think this shows U.P. wrestling is not to be taken lightly."
New Lothrop got a bye in the semifinals before dropping a 55-9 decision to top-ranked Clinton in the title round.
BR-H sophomore Dillon Raab reached the 135-pound final, where he dropped a 9-3 decision to Hanover-Horton senior Christopher Sorrow. Raab finished at 33-2, and Sorrow was 25-1.
Also reaching the podium were junior Wyatt Raab (171) fourth, senior Daniel Dani (119) sixth, sophomore Drew Allgeyer (160) seventh and senior Tyler Racicot (160) eighth.
"Drew and Taylor faced each other in the seventh-place match," said coach Racicot. "It's kind of unusual to get two from the same school place in the state finals, which is a huge compliment to them. We had the biggest team in the U.P. with 24 at one time. We're losing four seniors, which means other kids had to step up. Hopefully, we'll have a more normal year next season. With testing requirements this year some kids couldn't participate because they weren't able to get tested."
Additional qualifiers were junior and three-time qualifier Avry Corrigan (112) and sophomore Josh Riley (125).
Coach Racicot and his assistant Jake Cronick also earned regional coach and assistant coach of the year honors during their post-season run.
"This is really more of a tribute to the kids," said Racicot. "They're the ones doing the hard work in competition."
The Broncos dropped only two regular-season matches, both to Escanaba.
Junior Katie Viau (122) and freshman Melody Racicot (138) represented the Broncos in the girls' state finals March 21, with Viau placing fifth.
"All four divisions were put together as one," said coach Racicot. "Katie has definitely developed into a real fine wrestler."
Esky qualified four for the D-2 state finals, with senior Collin Arnt (135) placing fifth and freshman Eli Gardner (103) taking eighth.
Senior Brodey Bevins (152) didn't place, and junior Jarret Olsen (215) didn't make the trip downstate.
"This was obviously an unusual season," said coach Jeff Wright. "Wrestling teaches you to deal with what's in front of you. There was a lot of adversity with having a shorter season, but I think the kids made the most of it.
"Eli was only our second freshman to place in the state finals, and Colin became a three-time qualifier. Brodey was one match away from placing. It's unfortunate the kids didn't get to wrestle in the U.P. Championships this year (due to Covid-19). Brodey could have been a four-time U.P. champion, but ended as a three-time champion."
The Eskymos finished 21-3 after dropping a 49-29 decision in a team regional opener at Fremont. They also fell to Fremont and Warren DeLaSalle in a quadrangular at Petoskey.
"Our team goal was to win the district," said Wright. "Gaylord shut their school down during the regional, although Fremont was a very good team.
"Tyler Lawson (senior at 140) was in a real tough weight class and didn't get out of the district. He otherwise had a great season. We're losing seven seniors, a group I was really close with. We're still bringing back some good wrestlers and bringing up some good kids from eighth grade."
Gladstone brought three to the D-3 state individual finals where freshmen Drew Hansen (103) placed third, and Austin Solis (119) took fifth. Junior Hunter Solis (125) also qualified, but was unable to place.
"The season went real well," said coach Jeff Brazeau. "We took only eight to the team regional, which really hurt us (in a 36-18 loss to Boyne City). All three of our guys did real well in the state tournament. It was a great experience for our freshmen to go down there and place, and Hunter was in a real rough division. Our future is looking real good. We have some good freshmen coming up."
The Braves are losing Blake Servant (171) and Peter Noblet (215) to graduation.
"Pete had a great year," said Brazeau. "He was one match short of the state finals, and Blake didn't wrestle in the individual post-season. This was still a great experience. This is something to build on for next year. We have a pretty young team.
"Hopefully, we can get back to somewhat normal next year. We lost out on a lot of good tournaments. I feel bad for the guys who couldn't wrestle in the U.P. Championships, especially Blake and Pete. Winning the team district again was huge. That helps keep the tradition going. Nearly everyone's numbers were down this year. Hopefully, things will be different next year."
Manistique junior McKabe Swanson (285) also qualified for the D-4 state finals but didn't place.