Champion Landon Foss, 59 lbs, in the 9/10 open division at Kentwood last weekend. Photo by B. Chong.

By Barbra Chong

The first tournament of the 2016-2017 MYWA Western Region tournament was hosted by Kentwood wrestling this past weekend. West Michigan Pursuit brought twenty grapplers to compete with two entering Novice and the rest entering the Open division. We also had one grappler travel to Iowa to compete at the Hawkeye Nationals. Our team placed 18 of our young competitors in the top four. Out of 72 battles, WMP claimed 44 victories.

“Each year I have returning champions, more who are training to gain that status and those looking to be a part of the continued success here at WMP. Looking at the team I have right now, I am very impressed and excited to see what the 2016 season brings”, said Owner and Head Coach, Dave Andrus. This week’s placements are as follows:
4th Place Medalists include 64 lb Logan Galinis, 7/8 Novice division; 62 lb Drew Moro, 7/8 Open division (Hawkeye Nationals); 52 lb Kaleb Pautke, 7/8 Open division; 80 lb Isa Starr, 9/10 Open division; 58 lb Aaiden Vasquez, 7/8 Open division and 133/158 lb Maston Wood, 11/12 division.

3rd Place Medalists include 155 lb Aidan Dowdell, 13/15 Open division; 49 lb Desmond Smith, 4/6 Open division; 75 lb Isaiah Sostenes, 7/8 Open division and 55 lb Kellen Weckesser, 7/8 Open division.

2nd Place Medalist include 67 lb Luke Egan, 9/10 Open division.

CHAMPIONS are 61 lb Quinten Cassiday, 7/8 Open division; 67 lb Chayson Eberspeaker, 7/8 Open division; 59 lb Landon Foss, 9/10 Open division; 72 lb Tyler Parmeter, 7/8 Open division; 80 lb Blake Peasley, 9/10 Open division; 63 lb Josh Vasquez, 9/10 Open division and 49 lb Blake Werkema, 4/6 Open division.

If you are interested in learning more about this sport or if your wrestler is looking to compete at the next level, come check us out. We are located in the Cedar Springs Sports Plex, practices are Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Left to right: Caden Troupe-4th place, Brandson Wood and Blake Falan-1st place.

The Cedar Springs Youth Wrestling Club headed to Lakewood High School on December 13 to participate in the MYWA Lakewood Open & Novice Tournament in Lake Odessa. They took 19 wrestlers with 13 placing in the top 4.

“It’s always exciting watching the kids put all their hard work from practice into play,” said Coach Marsman after Sunday’s meet. “There’s no better way to learn than facing that opponent across the mat.”

Next Sunday they wukk head to Belding High School for the MYWA Belding Open & Novice Tournament.

First place medalists were Blake Falan in the 7/8 year old 55lb Novice weight class, Hudson Crystal in the 7/8 year old  72lb Novice class and Ariana Meyers in the 11/12 year old 133lb Novice class.

In second place were Blake Pickard in the 9/10 year old 80lb Novice weight class, Logan Troupe in the 11/12 year old 85lb Novice class and Austin Miller in the 11/12 year old 183lb class.

Third place finishers were Andrew VanGessel in the 13/14 year old 80lb Open class, Carter Falan in the 11/12 year old 95lb Open class and Isaiah McElravy in the 13/14 year old Open class.

Fourth place grapplers were Caden Troupe in the 4/5/6 year old 46lb Novice class, Treyce Niles in the 4/5/6 year old 49lb Novice class, Trevor Marsman in the 11/12 year old 75lb Open class and Wyatt Cooper in the 9/10 year old 110lb Open class.

Six-year-old Caleigh Wood and 13-year-old Brooklynn Wright both both placed in the War of the Roses tournament in Loveland, Colorado last weekend.

Over the weekend, 13-year-old Brooklynn Wright and 6-year-old Caleigh Wood traveled to Loveland, Colorado to participate in the War Of The Roses Holiday Championship. They were able to weigh in at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and had a chance to practice with the United States women’s national team and tour the Olympic Training Center. Caleigh took 2nd place and Brooklynn took 3rd place in Sunday’s tournament.

If anyone is interested in checking out the program, they meet Tuesday or Thursday evening from 6-8 in the High School Wrestling Room. You can also check out their Facebook page~Cedar Springs Youth Wrestling Club.

Wrestler Blake Peasley placed first in the 7/8 open age group 72/77 lb division for West Michigan Pursuit.

By Barbra Chong

The first tournament of the 2015-2016  MYWA Western Region tournament was hosted by Mona Shores this past weekend. West Michigan Pursuit brought sixteen grapplers to compete with eight entering novice and the rest entering the open division. The team battled 56 times with 33 ending in victory, and 14 young competitors placing in the top five.

“Every year I have returning champions, more who are training to gain that status and those looking to join our team. Looking at the team I have right now, I am very impressed and excited to see what the 2015 season brings,” said owner and head coach Dave Andrus. This week’s placements are as follows:

5th Place Medalist include Kaden Schmid in the 9/10 Open age group in the 85 lb wt class.

4th Place Medalists include Logan Bennett in the 9/10 Open age group in the 75 lb wt class, David Erxleben in the 13/14 Open age group in the 95 lb wt class and Jacob Howard in the 4-6 Novice age group in the 46 lb wt class.

3rd Place Medalists include Caden Kelly in the 7/8 Novice age group in the 67 lb wt class and Kellen Weckesser in the 7/8 Open age group in the 52 lb wt class.

2nd Place Medalist include Joshua Howard in the 9/10 Novice age group in the 85 lb wt class and Zak Schmid in the 13/14 Open age group in the 155 lb wt class.

Champions are Michael Cannon in the 9/10 Open age group in the 55/59 lb wt class, Chayson Eberspeaker in the 4-6 Novice age group in the 55/58 lb wt class, Luke Egan in the 7/8 Open age group in the 58/61 lb wt class, Tyler Parmeter in the 7/8 Novice age group in the 61 lb wt class, Blake Peasley in the 7/8 Open age group in the 72/77 lb wt class and Isaiah Sostenes in the 7/8 Open age group in the 64/67 lb wt class.

If you are interested in learning more about this sport or if your wrestler is looking to compete at the next level, come check us out. We are located in the Cedar Springs Sports Plex, practices are Tuesday and Thursday from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Pictured is Chayson Eberspeaker from the 4-6 age group.

The first tournament of the 2014-2015 MYWA Western Region tournament was hosted by Mona Shores last weekend.  West Michigan Pursuit took 21 grapplers to compete, with eight entering Novice and the rest entering the Open division. Our team battled 70 times with 49 ending in victory. Twenty of our young competitors placed in the tournament.

“Looking at the group of kids I have, I have a feeling this will be one of the best groups, as a whole, I’ve had to work with so far. Judging from today’s competition, I am very impressed and excited to see what the season brings,” said Owner and Head Coach, Dave Andrus.”

This week’s placements are as follows:

5th Place Medalist include Chase Sarniak  in the 7/8 Open age group in the 52 lb wt class.

4th Place Medalists include Casey Eberspeaker in the 7/8 Open age group in the 64 lb wt class.

3rd Place Medalists include Landon Foss in the 7/8 Open age group in the 52 lb wt class, Blake Peasley in the 7/8 Open age group in the 64 lb wt class, Hannah Pienton in the 11/12 Novice age group in the 90/95 lb wt class, Anthony Szubinski Jr. in the 9/10 Open age group in the 67 lb wt class and Brandson Wood in the 7/8 Open age group in the 46/49 lb wt class.

2nd Place Medalist include Lee Braun in the 7/8 Open age group in the 58 lb wt class, Xavier Contreras in the 9/10 Open age group in the 71 lb wt class, Bryan Vandermark in the 7/8 Novice age group in the 61 lb wt class, Luke Egan in the 7/8 Open age group in the 52 lb wt class and Caleigh Wood in the 4/5/6 Novice age group in the 40 lb wt class.

Champions include Gage Bowen in the 7/8 Open age group in the 82 lb wt class, Chayson Eberspeaker in the 4/5/6 Novice age group in the 52 lb wt class, Derek Egan in the 13/14 Novice age group, Kameron Ogden in the 7/8 Novice age group in the 55 lb wt class, Kaden Schmid in the 9/10 Novice age group in the 75 lb wt class, Zak Schmid in the11/12 Novice age group in the 133/158 lb wt class, Josh Vasquez in the 7/8 Open age group in the 52 lb wt class and Maston Wood in the 9/10 Open age group in the 100/130 lb wt class.

Congratulations to all of you grapplers for stepping out on the mat and working as hard as you do. You truly are The Pursuit of Champions!

Coach Dave Andrus and Blake Peasley stepping off the mat after an undefeated season and becoming a 2014 State Champion.

Last weekend was the final tournament for the West Michigan Pursuit 2014 season, MYWA State Finals. WMP took 15 grapplers to compete and five brought home a coveted All State Title. There were 265 teams and over 2,500 grapplers competing.

“I think there is a time when every coach questions the effect they have on their athletes. It’s moments like these that solidify why we do what we do,” said Owner and Head Coach, Dave Andrus.
Jayden Marcano-Cruz wrestled in the 4/5/6 age group in the 43 lb wt class. He battled six times with four ending in victory. Jayden had 31 kids in his bracket and finished out taking 7th place with a final record of 35-6.

Ty Whalen wrestled in the 11/12 age group in the 60 lb wt class. He had 13 kids in his bracket and finished out taking 6th place with a final record of 19-8.

Luke Egan wrestled in the 4/5/6 age group in the 49 lb wt class. He battled seven times with five ending in victory. Luke had 26 kids in his bracket and finished out taking 5th place with a final record of 55-7.

Brocke Fisher wrestled in the 11/12 age group in the 60 lb wt class. He battled four times with three ending in victory. Brocke had 13 kids in his bracket and finished out taking 3rd place with a final record of 19-7.

Blake Peasley wrestled in the 4/5/6 age group in the 58 lb wt class. Blake is our only West Michigan Pursuit grappler who remained undefeated the entire season. He had 25 kids in his bracket. Going into the Championship match, Blake took on Da’Quavon White from the East Region, who also had an undefeated season. The stakes were high on both sides. During the third period, the score was tied 5-5, and, with three seconds left on the clock, Blake got the last take down, with a final score of 7-5. Blake is a second year wrestler who finished out his season with a record of 33-0. He is our first MYWA State Champion! Congratulations Blake on such a huge accomplishment.
We also had Hannah Pienton who competed in the MYWA All-Girls State Championship. This is Hannah’s first year of wrestling and she joined the sport half way into the season. She battled in the 12 and under age group in the 85 lb wt class and finished in 4th place.

Olivia Male competed in the USAW Women’s Nationals. She competed in the 9/10 age group in the 70 lb wt class and finished in 6th place. What a great accomplishment to be recognized as top 6 in the nation. All of our wrestlers who stepped on the mat this weekend wrestled tough. You truly are The Pursuit of Champions!

Brocke Fisher

This week’s MYWA Western Region tournament was hosted by Sparta. West Michigan Pursuit brought twenty grapplers to compete, half entering Novice and the other half entering the Open division. Our team battled 59 times with 30 ending in victory. This past weekend placed 14 of our young competitors in the top 4.

“I challenged my kids to beat their personal fastest pin for this season and six rose to the challenge. I now owe six King Sized Candy Bars! These kids have heart and a competitive drive to be the best,” said Owner and Head Coach, Dave Andrus. This week’s placements are as follows:

4th Place Medalists include Hunter Chilcote in the 11/12 Novice age group in the 95 lb wt class and Zak Schmid in 11/12 Open age group in the 112/119 lb wt class.

3rd Place Medalists include Blake Longcore in the 13/14 Novice age group in the 107/114 lb wt class and Kaden Schmid in the 9/10 Novice age group in the 71 lb wt class.

2nd Place Medalist include Derek Egan in the 11/12 Novice age group in the 80/85 lb wt class, Brocke Fisher in the 11/12 Open age group in the 65/70 lb wt class, Lucus Pienton in the 13/14 Open age group in the 122/130 lb wt class, Colton Schmid in the 7/8 Novice age group in the 61 lb wt class and Maston Wood in the 9/10 Open age group in the 95/100 lb wt class.

Champions are Luke Egan in the 4/5/6 Novice age group in the 49 lb wt class, Cameron Fess in the 11/12 Open age group in the 85 lb wt class, Jayden Marcano-Cruz in the 4/5/6 Novice age group in the 43 lb wt class, Cody McHenry in the 13/14 Novice age group in the 155/170 lb wt class and Blake Peasley in the 4/5/6 Open age group in the 49/52/58 lb wt class. Blake still remains undefeated.

Congratulations to all of you grapplers for stepping out on the mat and working as hard as you do. You truly are The Pursuit of Champions!

We somehow missed Brocke Fisher from last week’s Champions. He also took 1st Place at the Tri County tournament in the 11/12 Open age group in the 65 lb wt class. Way to go!

These three wrestlers were undefeated in a tournament last weekend. L to R: Nathan Male, Nathan Elliston and Olivia Male. Coach Dave Andrus standing in back.

West Michigan Pursuit, located on White Creek Avenue, has been open for training just six short months, and already owner Dave Andrus is seeing the kids’ hard work start to pay off. This past Sunday, Andrus, who is also Cedar Springs High School’s varsity wrestling coach, took three kids to an individual MYWA tournament in Mendon, Michigan to kick off the season. With over 200 wrestlers in attendance, and over 50 in the 7/8 year old bracket alone, the kids wrestled a combined 14 matches with each finishing undefeated in their weight class.   Nathan Male finished with 3 pins, one bye and one decision. Olivia Male finished with four decisions, and Nathan Elliston ended the day with 4 pins and one decision. All three are students at Beach Elementary School in Cedar Springs.