Three Pirates Earn All-State Wrestling Honors

Napoleon High School wrestler Brenden Yob, top, earned all-state honors during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state individual meet at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(April 3, 2021 8:27 AM)  It has been a tough year for Napoleon High School sophomore Brenden Yob. 

He contacted the virus DOVID-19 during cross country season and struggled a bit to get back into wrestling as well.

Yob put a cure to that on Friday earning all-state honors at 112 pounds during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state individual meet at Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo.

He is joined by teammates Nick Marienfeld (145 pounds) and Brady Brooks (215 pounds) in finishing in the top eight of their respective weight classes – earning all-state medals.

Yob finished eighth at 112 pounds, Marienfeld placed fifth at 145 pounds, and Brooks took eighth at 215 pounds.

Yob, a sophomore, said his endurance has been off this wrestling season.

“It has been a tough year, but winning a medal at the state meet was one of my goals,” Yob said Friday. “It was a lot different wrestling so many matches during the state meet.”

Brooks said earning a medal meant all of the blood, sweat, and tears was worth it. 

“At the state meet you just have to bring it,” Brooks said. “You have to keep your head in it (wrestling).”

Marienfeld earns an all-state medal for the second consecutive season. He finished seventh at 125 pounds a year ago in Division 3 for the Pirates.

“You have to be able to win close matches at the state meet,” Marienfeld said.

Napoleon is coached by Carl Bunker who was named Division 3 region coach of the year last week at the regional meet. 

Thomas Sturdevant of Columbia Central and Conner Stewart of Michigan Center also made appearances at the D-3 finals. Both won matches, but fell in the consolation matches right before the medal rounds.

Stewart, a senior, was making his first appearance at the state finals at 145 pounds. Sturdevant battled at 140 pounds on Friday as the only CCHS wrestling qualifier.

Napoleon wrestlers Mason Roth (152) and Trevin Eggleston (189) lost a pair of matches at the state finals.