Wings Event Center is becoming quite the familiar destination for Hart’s wrestling program.
The Pirates are headed back to the team state finals next weekend in Kalamazoo after capturing a fourth-straight regional championship Wednesday night.
In a Division 3 team regional at Chippewa Hills, Hart pulled out a hard-earned 39-23 semifinal win over the host squad, then rolled to a 54-13 victory over Clare.
The state quarterfinals are next Friday with the semifinals and finals on Saturday, all at Wings Event Center. The Pirates (31-5) will learn their team state finals seeding and quarterfinals opponent on Sunday.
“The team was ready coming into today’s duals. We knew Chippewa Hills would be tough right out of the gate and they definitely were,” Hart first-year coach Elijah Flores said. “I thought the boys showed great effort and heart tonight and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome.”
Winning matches for Hart in the regional finals win over Clare included Ivan Lara, Ayden Dodge, Emmanuel Ortega, Halen Boos, Austin Martinez, Bryce Jorissen, Josue Salgado Velazquez, Guillermo Ortega, Alex Hicks and Zane Thomas.
Winners for the Pirates in the regional semifinals victory over Chippewa Hills were Adrian Tice, Ivan Lara, Trayce Tate, Darice Mosley, Salgado Velazquez, Boos, Martinez and Hicks.
“We had some guys really step up for us tonight, especially freshman Halen Boos and sophomore Alex Hicks,” Flores said.
RAVENNA FALLS IN REGIONAL FINAL
Very few people, if any, expected Ravenna’s wrestling team to be competing for a regional title this season.
Having earned only three regular-season dual wins, the Bulldogs hit their stride a bit in the postseason. They captured a Division 4 district trophy last week in their home gym and found themselves in a regional championship match Wednesday night after a thrilling 33-29 regional semifinal win over host Ithaca.
Ravenna fell to state-ranked St. Louis in the regional final, 82-0. The Bulldogs squad finishes with a 6-18 dual record.
St. Louis advances to the team state finals next weekend at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo.
