COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – In Branch County high school sports, it turned into a showcase Saturday with Coldwater and Bronson each winning conference wrestling tournaments while the Coldwater Gymnastics Team 5th annual Stick It For a Cure Cardinal Invitational to benefit cancer awareness raised more than $6,200 to be donated to the CHC Cancer Center Oncology Unit. Each of the 85 gymnasts from the 10 entered schools received a water bottle stuffed with goodies donated by local businesses. Coordinators also presented cancer survivors and warriors with a purple survivors keychain at the half-way point in the event. Coldwater finished 5th in the competition with their 5th qualifying Regional score. The Lady Cardinals started the day on the vault and collected four individual qualifiers led by Jenny Daoud with a score of 8.15. Next, Coldwater earned their highest uneven bars point total of the season. Jenny Daoud scored a personal best of 8.05, finishing just outside the awards stand in 11th place. On the balance beam, the Lady Cardinals had six individual qualifiers and again Jenny Daoud led the team with her season best and fifth straight qualifier at 8.20 points which tied for 13th place. Coldwater wrapped up the day on the floor exercise with four individual qualifiers led by Amanda Daoud with an 8.0. In the all-around competition, Jenny Daoud tied for 12th place with Amanda Daoud finishing the day in 15th place.
In wrestling, Coldwater won the inaugural Interstate 8 Conference Championship meet at Parma Western, edging out Harper Creek for the title. The victory also put the Cardinals in first place overall in the final league standings. Colin Klein finished first Saturday at 215 pounds to earn All-Conference first team honors. Placing second in their weight divisions for Coldwater to make the All-Conference second team were Shuaib Aljabaly, Josh Powers, Nooh Aljabaly, Jesse Miller, Zach Chehowski, and Sam DeMeester.
Bronson won the inaugural BCS Conference tournament meet at Niles-Brandywine. The Vikings had 3 first place finishers with David Erwin at 152 pounds, Brett Burtrum at 171 and Jukoada Sexton at 189. Second place medals went to Jordan Withington, Nathan Caudill and Joey Losinski while finishing third were Eion Depaz, Isaac Roberston, and Cole Houtz. Also on Saturday, Quincy hosted the Big 8 Conference league tournament. Quincy ended up in 7th place while Union City was sixth. Union City had one champion on the day with Jacob Todd finishing first at 145 pounds. Ben Dart had a second place finish while for Quincy, Jared Brown had a runner-up showing.
Tonight in varsity high school sports, in Boys basketball, it’s Bronson at home against Battle Creek St. Philip while in Girls basketball, it’s Bronson at Mendon.
In middle school sports, in wrestling on Saturday, Coldwater competed at the Sturgis Invitational. Champions in their weight divisions were Zeke Nowicki, Matt Gipple and Dillon Minton. Bringing home a second place medal was Griffen Olmstead while placing third were Jagger Belt and Ethan Massey.
