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West Michigan Conference wrestling: Roundup from Jan. 28, 2023

Whitehall finishes runner-up in Rick Champion Alumni Duals.

Saturday was a busy day for West Michigan Conference wrestling teams.

Here is a roundup of results reported to CatchMark SportsNet from Jan. 28, 2023:

RICK CHAMPION ALUMNI DUALS

Photos courtesy of Carrie Goodrich and Macy Taranko | Whitehall wrestling

Saturday marked a homecoming of sorts for the Whitehall wrestling program, as about 30 alumni wrestlers, coaches and statisticians assembled in the Whitehall High School gymnasium for the annual Rick Champion Alumni Duals.

Division 3 fourth-ranked Whitehall finished runner-up in the event, falling to Division 2 fourth-ranked Allendale (42-25). Earlier in the day, the Vikings defeated Howard City Tri County (64-12), Comstock Park (56-13) and Byron Center (39-34).

Shane Cook (215/285), Darnell Mack (144/150) and Ryan Goodrich (157) each went 4-0 on the day for Whitehall.

“We learned some lessons against (Byron Center),” said Whitehall co-coach Justin Zeerip, whose squad lost six matches against Byron Center by either pin or major decision but battled back. “Those guys are tough, but we got away from the things that make us who we are.

“We can’t give up points at the end of periods and we can’t give up pins, especially with no time left. We just have to be more stubborn than we were against those guys.”

In the finals, Whitehall jumped out to a 20-0 lead but it was mostly Allendale after that.

“I think we got better today,” Whitehall co-coach Collin Zeerip said. “Our guys responded after Byron Center. Sometimes you win when you lose. The guys proved they could bounce back after quite a low point. We’re proud of them for that.

“We’ll be right back to work Monday.”

RANDY JACOBS MEMORIAL DUALS

Orchard View edged Montague, 36-35, in the fifth-place match in the annual Randy Jacobs Memorial Duals Saturday at Montague High School.

In the championship match, Hamilton defeated Fruitport (43-27). In the third-place match, Spring Lake beat Alma (40-39 on tiebreakers).

In other Montague matches, the Wildcats defeated Cadillac (42-39) and Muskegon Catholic Central (46-32) while losing to Hamilton (51-23) and Spring Lake (45-36).

Tristan Winkleblack (150/157) went 5-0 on the day to lead Montague, while Michael Moore (157/165), Jimmy Thommen (113) and Joe Winkelman (285) all went 4-1.

@catchmark.sportsnet

How do Montague wrestlers kill time while waiting their turn to take the mat during the Randy Jacobs Memorial Duals? A dance-off, of course! #fyp #CatchMark #catchmarksportsnet #montague #wrestling #danceoff #montaguewildcats

♬ dance(256762) – TimTaj

JOHN HARRIS INVITATIONAL AT SHEPHERD

Hesperia placed eighth at the John Harris Invitational Saturday at Shepherd with 104.5 points. Bay City John Glenn won the championship with 226.5 points.

Alex Sayer (113), Blake Sayer (120), Skyler Stalbaum (138) and Alex Gleason (150) all went 3-1 to lead Hesperia, while Stephen Priese (106) was 2-1.

SHELBY SUPER DUALS

Mason County Central finished 1-4 in the Shelby Super Duals on Saturday. The Spartans defeated Grant and lost to Sparta, Forest Hills Central, Lakeview and Cedar Springs.

Zane McCabe (126) went 4-1 on the day to lead MCC.

“Shelby is always a real tough tournament where we get to see wrestlers and teams we haven’t seen before,” MCC coach Kendel Trim said. “It was good to get exposed to some of the style differences in the OK Conference schools in the Grand Rapids area.”

Lead writer for CatchMark SportsNet and Web Services leader for CatchMark Technologies.

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