GRAND RAPIDS, MI (WTVB) – Three Branch County wrestlers earned spots on the podium on Saturday at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division Four Individual Wrestling Finals at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids.
Two of the wrestlers were in the 215 pound weight class as Bronson’s Justin Blankenship was fourth while Union City’s Grady Iobe was eighth.
Blankenship won his first two matches on a pin in 48 seconds and on a 2-1 decision to advance to the semifinals where he lost on a 10-3 decision to Cam Orr of New Lothrup. Blankenship went into the consolation bracket where he scored a pin in 56 seconds before losing the third place match on a pin by Andrew Quinn of Mason County Central.
Iobe won his opening round match on a 6-4 decision but lost in the quarterfinals on a 8-5 decision to Orr. Iobe then scored a pin in the consolation bracket before losing his last two matches to finish eighth.
Bronson’s Craig Tappenden finished fourth at 160 pounds after coming close to making the state championship match. He lost in the semifinals in sudden victory overtime to Spencer Konz of Clinton 6-4.
He then scored a 12-5 decision over Robert Cann of South Lyon in the consolation bracket before losing to Dylan Smith of Hudson on a 9-5 decision in the third place match.
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