Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
KENT CITY — Whitehall’s wrestling team never panicked when it trailed Kent City by nine points with five matches to go in a Division 3 regional semifinal Wednesday night in the Eagles’ gym.
The Vikings proceeded to reel off five straight wins, three in a row by pinfall, en route to a 46-27 team victory over the pesky Eagles.
In the finals, Whitehall overwhelmed Howard City Tri County, 68-12, en route to its seventh regional championship in eight years.
As a result, the fourth-ranked Vikings (30-3) are headed back to Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo for the team state finals next weekend. Their seeding and opponent in next Friday’s state quarterfinal will be revealed this Sunday. The team state semifinals and finals matches will take place next Saturday.
Picking up wins for Whitehall against Kent City in the regional semifinals Wednesday were Ryne Christensen, Blake English, Darnell Mack, Ryan Goodrich, Wyatt Jenkins, Jackson Cook, Blake Morningstar and Shane Cook.
Earning wins for Whitehall against Tri County in the regional finals included Cody Manzo, Liam Waller, Nolan Taranko, Max Krukowski, Caden Varela, Christensen, English, Mack, Goodrich, Jenkins and the Cook brothers.
Watch the video below to see the Vikings’ trophy celebration and to hear reaction from the Cook brothers and their coaches, Collin and Justin Zeerip.
