Cedar Springs Youth Wrestlers after a successful regionals. Photo by J. Troupe.

By Jacquie Troupe

Thirty-eight Cedar Springs Youth Wrestlers competed at the Myway West Regionals March 10-11 for the top four spots in each division to continue on to the State competition on March 23-25. 

The team placed 2nd in pins with 38 in 59:49; 3rd in techs with 4 in 14:23; and 1st in Team Points with 586. The kids went 85-61 for the weekend. 

According to Coach Scott Marsman, they are so proud of themselves and of their hard work and dedication. They are anxious for the State competition and are looking forward to the fun times with their teammates. 

In the 2011-13 division 43lb class, Sierra Streeter scored 27 TMP (tied for 70th), placed 4th. Brycen Alber placed 5th. In the 52lb class Nolan Averill had 2 pins in 2:30 (73rd), 38 TMP (tied for 24th) and placed 2nd. In the 55lb class Dillon VanDyke had 2 pins in 1:20 (43rd), his fastest pin was :36 (tied for 70th) and he placed 3rd. The Champion in the 64lb class was Jaxon Fitzgerald. He had 2 pins in 2:11 (62nd), his fastest pin was :11 (4th). The Champion in the 67lb class was Ben Streeter. His fastest pin was 1:58.

In the 2009-10 divisions, Tucker Dines scored 55 TMP (most on the team and tied for 3rd) and placed 6th in the 52lb class. Caleigh Wood had 2 pins in 3:32 (94th) and placed 5th in the 55lb class. Tucker Crystal had a pin in 1:17 and placed 3rd in the 58lb class. The Champion in the 67lb class was Chasyn Winchel. His fastest pin was :27 (tied for 40th). Alex Hanes placed 3rd in the 72lb class. The Champion in the 77lb class was Jon Libera.  He had 2 pins in 2:28 (tied for 72nd). Zach Vu placed 5th in the 97lb class. 

In the 2008 division Deegan Pike placed 5th in the 63lb class. Austin Averill placed 6th in the 67lb class. Spencer Schoenborn placed 4th in the 67lb class. The Champion in the 71lb class was Blake Falan. He had 3 pins in 4:31 (15th), his fastest pin was :25 (tied for 28th).

Olivia Lawson placed 3rd in the 85lb class. 

In the 2007 divisions Trenton Perez placed 3rd in the 59lb class. Brandson Wood placed 3rd in the 63lb class. Kaiden Dreyer had one Tech in 2:20(12th), scored 53 TMP (7th) and placed 3rd in the  80lb class. Rory Shoenborn had two Techs in 8:13 (7th), 48 TMP (9th) and placed 5th in the 80lb class. Gavyn Byxbe placed 3rd in the 85lb class. Hudson Crystal had 2 pins in 2:24 (68th) and he placed 2nd in the 90lb class. Dakota Winchel placed 2nd in the 130lb class. 

In the 2006 division Wyatt Cooper placed 2nd in the 183lb class.

In the 2005 division  Gabe Gair had two pins in 2:00(57th), 1 Tech in 3:50 (49th) and placed 5th in the 105lb class. 

In the 2004 divisions the Champion in the 114lb class was Carter Falan. He had two pins in 2:28. Logan Troupe had a pin in 2:11and placed 4th in the 122lb class. Ben Brunner had a pin in 1:22and placed 3rd in the 122lb class. The Champion in the 170lb class was Maston Wood. He had a pin in 4:04.

In the 2003 division Ashly Erxleben placed 6th.

In the 2002-03 HS division Andrew VanGessel had a pin in 2:29and placed 5th in the 115lb class.

In the 1999-2001 division David Erxleben placed 5th in the 133lb class.

The Cedar Springs girls bowling team is headed to state. Pictured L to R: Coach Tim Jackson, Rose Baty, Alexa Thompson, Katelyn Paige, Michayla Paige, Gabi Lamek, Sarah Galloway, Omani Morales, assistant coach Trevor Ruark.

Two individuals also to compete at state level

Individuals headed to state competition are senior Josh Hamilton (4th), and Omani Morales, the top girls bowler at regionals.

Both the Cedar Springs boys and girls bowling teams competed at regionals in Muskegon on Friday, February 23, and individual bowlers competed on Saturday, February 24.

The girls team finished second in the region, securing a trip to state for the third year in a row. Mona Shores came in first, and Sparta placed third. 

The boys team finished fourth, behind Kenowa Hills (1), Lowell (2), and Northview (3).

Individuals making it to state were sophomore Omani Morales, who finished as the top girls bowler in the region, with a six-game total of 1168; and senior Josh Hamilton, who finished fourth, with a six-game total of 1190.

State competition for teams is in Canton on Friday, March 2. Individuals will compete on Saturday, March 3.

Pictured is sophomore Jared Vodry, senior Austin Wamser, Coach Scott Troost, and junior Cody Oehme.

Will move on to state competition

The Cedar Springs Red Hawk Varsity Wrestlers endured a hard weekend wrestling last weekend at the regional competition. Cedar Springs had three boys qualify for the regional competition that was held in Mount Pleasant on Saturday Feb. 18, and all three were able to advance to the state competition that will be held at the Palace of Auburn Hills on March 3 and 4.

Senior Austin Wamser, ranked 5th in the state, claimed a second place finish in the 152 pound weight class, losing to Travis Curley from St. Johns, who is currently ranked Number 2 in the state. Wamser went head to head with Curley, without getting pinned but lost by points in the end.

Junior Cody Oehme grabbed a 4th place finish in the 125 pound weight class, losing only to the #6 division 2 state ranked wrestler Alec Ward, from Greenville, and honorable mention wrestler Luke Klein, from Sparta.

Sophomore Jared Vodry wrestled his way back to grab a 4th place finish in the 135 pound weight class, after losing to the #1 state ranked wrestler Brant Schafer, from St. Johns. Vodry then won his next match and moved on to take on state honorable mention wrestler Cameron Bender, also of St. Johns.

“The boys did a heck of a job,” Said Coach Scott Troost. “I knew Austin and Cody were going to make it through, but Jared was more of a long shot considering he had to wrestle a wrestler that had beat him twice the week before, but he pulled it off and beat that same wrestler, and that’s when I knew all 3 were going to advance to the state finals.” Troost continued, “I am very proud of them, just going to state is a huge accomplishment, all having very tough kids to beat to get there.  But the hard work isn’t finished yet. We have a week and a half to have them ready for state.”

Good luck to our regional finishers and we wish them well as they travel to Auburn Hills for the state competition on March 3 and 4. We are very proud of our wrestler Hawks.