Toughest Sport There Is
By Dan Ward

“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept”- JFK.

St. Johns returned to Mason on Thursday to take on Mason. Mason is currently the ninth-ranked D2 team in Michigan. It wasn’t going to be an easy task.

We did something unique this week. Instead of traveling to face two other teams, it was just Mason and us. The JV, Varsity Girls, and Varsity Boys all traveled to Mason to face off against the Bulldogs.

The JV team edged out Mason 39-34. Winners were Timothy VanLake (10-3), Roman Berkhousen (13-7), Logan Finn (Pin), Bridger Haviland (16-12), Michael Grow (Void), Greyson Osborne (Void), Oliver Nobis (Void), and Gabe Mares (Pin). The JV also wrestled some exhibition matches. Earning wins in those matches were Aedin Besonen (Pin), Madden Rademacher (Pin), Austin Clark (Pin), and Fletcher Whitford (Pin).

The Girls were a little overmatched, falling to Mason by a score of 45-24. Winning for the Redwings were Olivia Pettigrew (Pin), Addyson Ney (Void), Annabelle Longoria (Void), and Ella Prohaska (Void).

The Boys wrestled tough but ultimately fell to Mason by a score of 50-24. Something to know about Wrestling, a Void counts the same as a pin. So St. Johns basically started out 12 points in the hole, having to give up 106 and 113 pound weight classes. There is almost always some gamesmanship in wrestling, moving wrestlers around in the lineup to chase some points. So a 50-24 loss looks like a lot but a couple matches swing a different way and it closes that gap. Earning wins for the Redwing boys were Tristan Densmore ( Tech Fall 17-1), Will Wharton (Major Decision 18-8), Abram Matice (Pin), Gavin Moreno (Pin), and Reagan Ward (11-4).

(Team Warming Up Before Fowlerville- Photo by Glenn Armstrong_

On Saturday, the entire team traveled to Fowlerville. Fowlerville is a long day. We arrived at around 8:00 in the morning and left at around 7:30 at night. Six mats stuffed into Fowlerville’s gym, covering the entire floor. The action never stops.
St. Johns boys brought home 1st place out of 15 teams, beating Springport for the 2nd straight week. Placing in the top four for the Redwings were Reagan Ward (3rd),

(Reagan Ward with a pin. Photo Glenn Armstrong)

Donovan Quinn (1st), Corey Heck (2nd), Tristan Densmore (3rd),

(Tristan Densmore with a pin. Photo by Glenn Armstrong)

Hayden Billings (2nd), Doug Thurston (3rd), Brady Heibeck (3rd), Will Wharton (2nd), Abram Matice (1st), Gavin Moreno (4th) and Jackson Armstrong (3rd).

(Jackson Armstrong with a win. Photo By Glenn Armstrong)

The Girls placed 3rd behind Portland and Fowlerville. Placing for the girls were Olivia Pettigrew (1st),

(Olivia Pettigrew with a win. Photo by Glenn Armstrong)

Lori Morris (1st), Addyson Ney (2nd), Peyson Sova (3rd), Annabelle Gothberg (4th),
and Mia May (4th). Also getting their first wins of the season were Alexa Benner and Annabelle Gothberg.

(Annabelle Gothburg picks up her first win. Photo by Glenn Armstrong)

The JV boys wrestled as well. They didn’t keep a team score, but 13 JV wrestlers placed out of 200. Earning a medal for St. Johns were Gabe Mares (1st), Noah Demo (1st),

(Noah Demo gets his hand raised. Photo By Glenn Armstrong)

Keegan Hamilton (1st), Roman Berkhousen (1st) Paden McConnell (2nd), Bridger Havilan (1st), Austin Clark (1st), Madden Radmacher (2nd), Michael Grow (2nd), Kael Whitaker (1st), Gabe Armstromg (1st), Oliver Nobis (1st) and Nick McGillis (1st).

The JV take to the mats Monday in Eaton Rapids for a JV Jamboree. The Varsity Boys and Girls are in action on Wednesday AT HOME!! We take on Eaton Rapids and Haslett. Eaton Rapids is ranked 10th in D2, so we need all the support we can get. Come out and cheer us on. We should get underway at around 5:00. We wrap up 2025 with a tournament in Ionia on Saturday.