Heroes
By Dan Ward
“Oh, we can beat them for ever and ever
Then we could be heroes
Just for one day.” – David Bowie

My wife bought me a cinch bag a few years ago when I started this go-round with the wrestling program. It’s nothing fancy —a small black bag with Coach Ward embroidered on it—a small med kit, my car keys, a couple of protein bars, water, and M&Ms. On long Saturdays, there’s rarely time to leave the gym, so that bag becomes survival.

I don’t typically travel to the State Finals, and every year when regionals end, I come home, empty that bag, and set it aside. That’s the part that gets me. Cleaning it out feels final. Another season folded up and packed away. Another group of seniors finished. Another set of handshakes, hugs, and “thank you, coach.”

I’ve talked before about “win or go home.” This is the brutal stretch of the season. I’ve been back with the program five years now, and this senior class? I’ve known them since they were freshmen. I’ve watched them grow up in the wrestling room. Watching their seasons — and for some, their careers — come to an end is never easy.

But while the ending always carries a little weight, what happened this weekend deserves to be celebrated.

Individual Regionals took place Saturday for the boys and Sunday for the girls. For the boys, Donovan Quinn and Brady Heibeck represented St. Johns. The boys competed at Fowlerville; the girls, Annabelle Longoria, Hailey Prohaska, Peyson Sova and Olivia Pettigrew, headed to Warren-Mott.

Brady Heibeck’s tournament didn’t end the way he hoped. He dropped a tight 4-1 decision to Jack Edwards of Jackson Northwest in the opening round, then battled Chase Messersmith of Chelsea before being caught in the closing seconds. The result wasn’t what he wanted — but the effort never wavered. That’s who Brady is.

Donovan Quinn, on the other hand, was all business.

He opened with a :50 pin over Leo Nieto of Adrian. Then another fall in 1:35 over Justin Niyubushobozi of Lansing Waverly. In the championship round, with a State Finals berth in the bag, Donovan shut out Daniel Gemmel of New Boston Huron 3-0.
Ticket punched.

Donovan is headed back to Ford Field for his second State Finals appearance, extending St. Johns’ long streak of sending a wrestler to the biggest stage.

Congratulations, Donovan.

On the girls’ side, the results didn’t perfectly match the hopes — but the fight was undeniable.

Peyson Sova opened strong with a 5:55 pin over Riley Hummel of Holly. She ran into tough competition in Lydia Stevens of Yale, then suffered an injury in the Blood Round before falling to Makenzie Collier of Durand. Both losses came to eventual state qualifiers. Peyson battled.

Hailey Prohaska faced Pauline Chapman of Richmond — a state qualifier — and Olivia Moyer of DeWitt. Two quick matches, tough draws, and valuable experience on a big stage.

Annabelle Longoria dropped her opener to state qualifier Makenzya Papiez, then stormed back with an 18-2 technical fall over Ava Adkins of Howell. In the Blood Round, with a trip to Ford Field on the line, she lost 5-3 on a last-second reversal to Pauline Chapman. Inches. Seconds. That’s how close it was.

And then there’s Olivia Pettigrew.

Olivia has wrestled the back half of this season with a broken nose. No excuses. Just toughness.

She started her day with a 2:37 pin over Jada Higgins of Sterling Heights before falling to regional champion Paisley DeNault of Clarkston. That set up the Blood Round against Charliee Phelps of Cass City.

At the end of regulation: 1-1.
After sudden victory: still 1-1.
After the first 30-second ride out: still tied.

In the second ride out, Liv found her moment — a reversal, two points, 3-1 final.
State Finals bound.

With that win, Olivia became just the second girl in St. Johns Wrestling history to qualify for the State Finals. She didn’t stop there, adding a 7-0 win over Kendra Cook of DeWitt in the consolation finals to take third place.

Congratulations, Liv.

Yes, there’s melancholy when the bag gets cleaned out. Yes, it’s hard watching seniors wrestle their last matches. That part never changes.
But this weekend reminded us of something bigger.

Heroes don’t have to last forever. Sometimes it’s just one match. One moment. One reversal in overtime. One shutout in the finals. One kid extending a streak. One girl breaking new ground for a program. Heroes, if just for one day.

Team State Finals are next week. Donovan and Olivia now have two weeks to prepare for Ford Field. Stay tuned, I’m sure there will be a sendoff.