Back in Black (and Red)
By Dan Ward

After a winter break filled with rest, rehab, and giving sore muscles a chance to finally forgive, the Redwings wrestling team is back in black. The black-and-red gear is out again, bodies are feeling healthier, and the extra two-pound weight allowance isn’t hurting anyone’s feelings as the season kicks back into gear. With injuries healing, energy recharged, and a little holiday rust still being knocked off, the Redwings returned to the mat rested, refreshed, and ready to wrestle their way into the heart of the season with smiles, confidence, and plenty of fight.

The girls started the new year wrestling in DeWitt on January 2nd.
They placed a respectable 8th out of 23 teams. Placing for the girls was:
Addyson Ney (2nd), Lori Morris (4th), Olivia Pettigrew (2nd), and Peyson Sova (2nd). The girls traveled to East Lansing to compete against East Lansing, Lansing Eastern, and Lansing Everett. Against Everett, Alexa Benner won (16-3), and Addyson Ney won by forfeit. Against East Lansing, Peyson Sova won by fall (2:50), and Olivia Pettigrew won by decision (10-6).

The boys had the opportunity to split on Wednesday with the Varsity (A) Boys and Girls traveling to East Lansing to wrestle Everett and Eastern, and Varsity (B) traveling to Charlotte to wrestle Battle Creek-Haper Creek (B) and Charlotte.

St. Johns beat Eastern 66-17. Getting their hand raised were: Annabelle Longoria (Forfeit), Reagan Ward (Fall 0:41), Jameson Halsey (Fall 1:08), Tristan Densmore (Forfeit), Hayden Billings (Fall 0:29), Doug Thurston (Fall 1:46), Brady Heibeck (Forfeit), Will Wharton (Forfeit), Abram Matice (Fall 3:10), Greyson Osborne (Fall 0:25) and Gabe Osborne (Fall 2:00).

Against Lansing Everett, the match started a little rough, with the Vikings jumping out to a 17-3 lead; however, it was all Redwings after that, as they dominated the next ten weight classes, winning 63-17. Coming off the Reslite with their hands raised were: Reagan Ward (11-4), Owen Parker (Fall 3:57), Tristan Densmore (Fall 1:01), Hayden Billings (Fall 2:56), Doug Thurston (Fall 1:04), Brady Heibeck (Fall 1:19), Will Wharton (Fall 3:26), Abram Matice (Forfeit), Greyson Osborne (Forfeit), Jackson Armstrong (Fall 3:10) and Annabelle Longoria (Forfeit).

Meanwhile, in Charlotte, the St. Johns started with an exciting dual against Battle Creek-Harper Creek’s Varsity (B) team. The duel ended with a score of 36-36. There are 14 tie-breaker criteria. After that, I think the coaches have to wrestle, or maybe it’s Rock-Paper-Scissors? Thankfully, it only came down to the 3rd, Most Individual Match Wins, and St. Johns pulled it out 7 to 6. Winning for the Redwings were Roman Berkhousen (Fall 3:31), Logan Finn (Fall 1:12), Austin Clark and Michael Grow, both by forfeit, Noah Demo (Fall 2:54), Keegan Hamilton (11-6), and closing it out and securing the win for St. Johns was Timothy Van Lake (9-6).

The Redwings didn’t fare as well against the Orioles, falling 61-12.
Getting wins for St. Johns were Kael Whitaker(Fall 3:48) and Oliver Nobis (Fall 3:44).

The JV team traveled to New Lothrop for a Friday Night Invitational.
Typically, large JV invitationals do a thing called ‘Block Weights.’ That is where, instead of the 14 weight classes, they will break it down a bit more, grouping wrestlers into ‘Blocks’. There were 21 weight classes for this invite, and the Redwings placed in the top 4 in 17 of them. Placing for the Redwings was: Roman Berkhousen (1st) Logan Finn (1st) Jaxson Densmore (1st) Austin Clark (1st) Greyson Osborne (1st) Gabe Osborne (1st) Gabe Mares (2nd) Noah Demo (2nd) Leo Marilla (2nd) Keegan Hamilton (2nd) Aedin Besonen (2nd) Madden Rademacher (2nd) Kael Whitaker (2nd) Timothy Van Lake (3rd) Owen Parker (4th) Ayden Marchek (4th) and Bridger Haviland (4th).

The Varsity traveled to New Lothrop on Saturday. The New Lothrop Hall of Fame Invite is one of the tougher regular-season tournaments the Redwings will participate in this year. With teams like Dundee, St. Louis, Montrose, and Mason bringing teams to this tournament, it’s a who’s who of Michigan wrestling. St. Johns placed 8th out of 18 teams. Placing in the top 6 for the Redwings were: Donovan Quinn (2nd), Tristan Densmore (2nd), Brady Heibeck (2nd), Abram Matice (2nd), and Gavin Moreno (3rd).

That’s it. Coming up this week, the JV are traveling to Grand Ledge for a JV Jamboree, the Varsity Boys and Girls are traveling to Fowlerville on Wednesday, the Varsity Boys are traveling to Hudson on Friday and Saturday, the Varsity B boys are traveling to Ithaca on Saturday, and the Varsity Girls are in Owosso on Sunday. Come out and support us; we appreciate it.