Three Area Teams Fall in Regional Wrestling

Napoleon High School wrestler Bart Laretz, top, attempts to pin an opponent during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 regional team tournament at home on Wednesday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

Napoleon High School wrestling Coach Carl Bunker told he wrestlers to go out and give it their best effort at the regional tournament at home on Wednesday.

He felt as if the Pirates did that.

But it didn’t necessarily show up on the scoreboard as No. 1 ranked Dundee won the regional final 82-0 against the Pirates. The Vikings will advance to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state finals next Tuesday.

They will be attempting to win the school’s seventh state title in nine seasons.

“Our wrestlers showed up and gave it out best effort tonight,” Bunker said. “We didn’t win … but we battled and represented ourselves well.”

Napoleon started the night with a 60-18 win over Hillsdale in the regional semifinal. Hunter Callahan started the night for the Pirates with a hard-fought 1-0 decision at 160 pounds.

Bart Laretz (171) pinned his opponent in the second period for the Pirates.

Pins by Trevin Eggleston (189) and Brady Brooks (215) gave the Pirates a 21-0 lead.

Napoleon voided the weight class at 285, but the Hornets voided four of the next five weight classes. Brenden Yob won an 8-5 decision at 119 for Napoleon.

Ian Albert pinned his opponent at 140 pounds and the Hornets voided the final two weight classes.

Laretz started the Dundee match taking a lead, but was pinned in the third period.

Dundee dominated the match with seven more pins and two technical falls. The Pirates voided four weight classes in the match.

Napoleon ended the season as Cascades Conference and district champions.

Division 4 at Bronson: Hanover-Horton High School lost 60-15 to Hudson on Wednesday in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 regional team semifinal at Bronson High School. The Comets finish the team season as Cascades Conference and district champions.

Division 2 at Richland Gull Lake: Northwest High School had to withdraw from the regional team tournament due to COVID-19 concerns.