Northwest’s Race Finishes Second in D-2 Wrestling

Northwest High School wrestler Gage Race, left, battles Dru Wilson of Warren Woods Tower High School during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state final at 130 pounds. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(April 3, 2021 8:33 AM) Northwest High School wrestler Gage Race put all of the COVID-19 distractions and heartaches behind him when he stepped on the mat for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 state individual wrestling finals.

He let the hard work in the off season speak for itself.

It almost landed him on top of the podium at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids on Friday night.

Race finished second to Dru Wilson of Warren Wood Tower High School, losing 6-5 in the D-2 130-pound final. 

The second-place finish earned Race all-state honors for the first time in his short career. As a freshman he lost in the regional consolation finals – just one win away from the state meet.

Race was joined by four other Mountie wrestlers earning all-state honors. Adam Haselius finished fourth at 189 pounds, Bryce Graham placed sixth at 112, Braden Gariety was seventh at 152, and Dominick Louagie placed eighth at 215 pounds for Northwest.

Western wrestlers Bode Brown (215) and Gage Parker (160) placed fourth and sixth respectively, earning all-state medals. 

Of the five all-state wrestlers for Northwest, only two are seniors.

“We could be right up there (with the best teams in the state) if we put in the hard work and study during the offseason,” Race said. 

Race finishes the season with a 20-5 record; Haselius finishes with a 27-2 record with his only losses coming at the state meet; and Gariety finishes with 22 wins in the COVID-19 shortened season. 

All three are sophomores at NWHS. 

Brown of Western concludes his wrestling career with a 23-4 season.