The Clinton Redwolves wrestled with fire and energy Friday afternoon, defeating Roscommon to advance to the MHSAA D4 state wrestling semifinals
KALAMAZOO — Up a seed from last year’s trip to Wings Event Center, the No. 3 ranked Clinton Redwolves traveled to the largest stage of high school wrestling in the state of Michigan, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 4 Team Wrestling State finals.
(This is only the write up for Clinton's trip to the state quarterfinals. Visit The Daily Telegram for the write up concerning Hudson's trip to the Wings Event Center)
Clinton entered the state quarterfinals with an eye on advancing to day two, and in order to do so they would have to get past a very scrappy and very ready Roscommon squad. Clinton wasted little time taking control, winning the first three bouts, all by bonus points, on the way to a lead they would never relinquish for a 60-17 state quarterfinal win.
The first three weights wrestled at the state quarterfinals included 144 pounds, 150 pounds, and 157 pounds, three of the weights containing wrestlers that suffered heartbreak and came up just short at individual regionals for Clinton, meaning they did not advance to Ford Field. This may have lit a fire under those three particular grapplers.
“You know I think we got a little bit lucky, starting at 144 pounds, those guys were some of the few who didn’t make it out of regionals, you know they came up just short, so they had a little bit of fire in their bellies to get us starting out strong,” said Clinton coach Casey Randolph.
Fire in the trio did show, much to Roscommon’s dismay, as at 144 pounds it was Ben Benschoter taking a pin in 1:15 to kick start the Clinton offense. Benschoter’s win was followed by a pin fall win for Tanner Bolton at 150 pounds. Clinton’s initial surge ended with a pin fall win at 157 pounds for Braxton Randolph, giving the Redwolves an early 18-0 lead.
After Roscommon secured a tech fall at 165, Clinton essentially put things away with another four-match run, all by bonus points. At 175 it was Clifford Jones winning via pin fall, followed by a win via a quick 17-2 tech fall for Bryce Randolph at 190 pounds. Owen Wright controlled things at 215 pounds, winning with a hard-fought pin fall. The final win of the Redwolves four match surge came at 285 pounds where Grady Whelan stuck Roscommon’s Walker Borchers, a state qualifier this year, in the second round, pushing Clinton’s lead to 41-5 with six matches left.
After a win for Roscommon at 106 pounds Clinton got back on the winning track with a pin at 113 for Hudson Miller, followed by a pin fall win for Zach Taylor at 120.
Roscommon took their last points at 126 pounds only to see Clinton’s Brock Worden take a 16-4 major decision at 132 pounds followed by Wyatt Cooley earning a hard fought 6-4 decision at 138 pounds to finish out the scoring.
With everything officially settled on the mats it was Clinton punching its ticket to wrestling on Saturday, defeating Roscommon 60-17 to secure a spot in the MHSAA Division 4 Team Wrestling semifinals.
“Tomorrow, we get to come back and take on a very good St. Louis team,” added Randolph. “Coach Kuhn and I were at Hudson together, that is where we both started and we went our separate ways and it is always fun to get back together and run it again.”
No. 3 Clinton now moves on to Saturday to face No. 2 seed St. Louis Sharks who defeated New Lothrop 60-14 in their quarterfinal.
The two teams will toe the line for the state semifinals at 9:30 a.m., with the winner returning that evening to wrestle for the MHSAA Division 4 state championship beginning at 3:45 p.m.
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This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Clinton wrestling beats Roscommon to advance to D4 state semifinals
Category: General Sports
