The top two teams from the West Michigan Conference captured team wrestling district titles Wednesday. Two other teams are seeking district crowns on Thursday.
Whitehall and Hart, which finished one-two in last Saturday’s conference tournament last Saturday, collected district championships Wednesday in Division 2 and Division 3, respectively.
Here is a roundup of team districts from Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022, as well as what’s on the schedule for Thursday, Feb. 10:
DIVISION 2 AT REETHS-PUFFER
Photos by Carrie Goodrich and Macy Taranko
Whitehall captured another team district championship with a 75-6 rout of host Reeths-Puffer Wednesday night in Division 2 action.
In the district semifinals, Reeths-Puffer defeated Muskegon, 57-18. Whitehall received a bye in the district semis.
Whitehall hosts the team regional next week. The unbeaten Vikings, ranked second in Division 2, will face the winner of Thursday’s district at Wyoming Kelloggsville.
Winning matches by fall for Whitehall against Reeths-Puffer were Nolan Taranko, Riley Buys, Aiden Weiler, Alec Pruett, Nick Blanchard, Bradyn VanPatten and Ira Jenkins. Other Vikings winning matches were Ryne Christensen, Caden Varela, Ryan Goodrich, Max Brown, Wyatt Jenkins and Shane Cook.
This Saturday, Whitehall hosts a Division 2 individual district tournament.
DIVISION 3 AT MONTAGUE
Photos by Stephanie Moore
Hart captured a fourth-straight team district title with a 46-31 finals victory over host Montague in Division 3 action Wednesday night.
In the district semifinals, Montague defeated Shelby, 50-28. Hart received a bye into the district finals.
Hart advances to next week’s team regional, where it will face Orchard View. The date and site for that regional is yet to be determined. No other details were available for the Pirates’ wrestlers from their district win Wednesday.
Montague wrestlers who went 2-0 on the night included Jimmy Thommen, Chris Aebig, Landon Askins, Cale Coppess, Tristan Winkleblack and Joe Winkelman.
“We wrestled really well tonight. The kids fought extremely hard for their school. I couldn’t be happier with that part of it,” Montague coach Kris Maddox said.
“We won several matches that we lost last weekend at conference and earlier in the year. We had a few guys wrestle sick tonight and they fought for their team. Really happy with the grit displayed. Hart is a better team and we wish them luck at team regionals next week.”
DIVISION 3 AT ORCHARD VIEW
Oakridge fell to Muskegon Catholic Central, 54-18, in a Division 3 team district semifinal Wednesday at Orchard View.
In the district finals, Orchard View beat MCC, 57-15.
OV advances to next week’s team regional and will face Hart. The date and site for that regional is yet to be determined.
THURSDAY ACTION
In Division 4 team wrestling district action Thursday, Ravenna takes on host Holton in the semifinals at 5 p.m. The winner will face Hesperia in the district finals at 6:15 p.m.
Also in D-4 team districts Thursday, Mason County Central travels to Manton and will face Fife Lake Forest Area in the 6 p.m. semifinals. The winner of that match will face the Manton/LeRoy Pine River victor in the district finals at 7:30 p.m.
