BRONSON, MI (WTVB)- The high school wrestling season wrapped up Saturday with two Bronson wrestlers returning from the MHSAA Individual Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills with All-State honors and fourth place finishes in their respective weight classes. After losing in the Championship Semifinals Friday night, both David Erwin and Nathan Caudill won their Consolation Semifinal matches to begin Saturday. In the Division 4 171 lb. 3rd Place Match, Erwin lost a 3-1 sudden victory decision to Manchester’s Trevor Humphrey to close his junior season at 44-5. In the Division 4 215 lb. 3rd Place Match, Caudill lost a tight 3-2 decision to Caleb Bangerter of Blissfield. Caudill’s junior campaign wrapped up with a 30-8 record.
In the MHSAA Division 2 Bowling Singles Finals at Super Bowl in Canton, Coldwater’s Shawn Johnson lost in the Match Play Quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Marcus McClain of Melvindale 433-331. Johnson earlier won his Round of 16 match and finished 3rd in the morning qualifying block with a combined 6-game total of 1297 to be among the 16 that advanced to the Match Play round. Fellow Cardinal bowler Collin Outwater finished 28th in the qualifying block with a 6-game total of 1135.
Over in the Division 4 Bowling Singles Finals at Royal Scot in Grand Ledge, Bronson’s Brandon Hyska finished 14th in the morning qualifying block with a 1202 but lost in the Match Play Round of 16 to Napoleon’s Justin Friedel 389-358.
At the MHSAA Gymnastics Regionals at Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills, Coldwater finished 5th with a team score of 127.150. Only the top three teams advance to next weekend’s State Finals. The Lady Cardinals will be sending sophomore Brooke Neitzert to the Individual State Finals this Saturday at Rockford with her 3rd place finish on the balance beam.
The 43rd Annual Al Clyne Exchange Club Freshman Boys Basketball Tournament concluded Saturday at Legg Middle School with four games, including Coldwater’s 53-51 overtime win against Loy Norrix in the 3rd place game. Austin Roby scored 22 points, and Michael Kubel added 14, as the Cardinals wrap up their season with an 8-12 record. Jackson High won the tournament championship with a 56-40 victory against Marshall. Earlier, Sturgis edged Lumen Christi 35-33 in the 5th place game, while Schoolcraft defeated Hillsdale 43-30 to take 7th place. The All-Tournament Team included Bryce Lafferty from Coldwater, while the entire Jackson Viking team was named tournament MVP.
In a makeup varsity boys basketball game from Saturday night, Union City fell to Concord 62-36, ending the Chargers’ regular season at 15-5 overall, 11-3 and in 2nd place in the Big 8 behind the visiting Yellow Jackets. Colin Kreger led Union City with 12 points, while Seth Bruce had 7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, and Elijah Way added 7 points and 5 boards.
The second season for boys basketball teams across the state begins tonight with the opening round of the MHSAA Districts, although most of Branch County’s teams will be on the sidelines watching their potential opposition for Wednesday’s games. At the Class B District hosted by Paw Paw, the host Redskins will take on Vicksburg tonight, with the winner moving on to face Coldwater Wednesday at 7:30 in the second game of a District Semifinal doubleheader. Edwardsburg will play against Three Rivers in Wednesday’s first game.
Over at the Class C Union City District, it’s Homer vs. Reading tonight, with the winner taking on Bronson in Wednesday’s second semifinal game; the host Chargers will face Quincy in Wednesday’s other semifinal. Tonight in the Class D Bellevue District, Tekonsha opens up with a game against Calhoun Christian.
