DETROIT, Mich. — Five Williamston wrestlers took place in the MHSAA Individual wrestling finals this past weekend at Ford field Detroit. Freshmen Greg Dion Lost a heartbreaking first match at 103 to Michael Brazeau of Gladstone 4-2, before falling to Bailey Borgeld of Comstock Park.
At 112, Ryker Johnecheck lost his opening match in a brutal fashion 7-6, to Dylan Witteg of Chippewa Hills. Johnecheck would win his next match against JD Gross of Richmond before losing a heartbreaking match to Jack Sherman of Millington 1-0.
At 119, Calvin Kittendorf came up short in his initial match against Lance Clark of Shephard. Kittendorf would come up short in his stay alive match against Billy Ostyn of Grant 2-0.
At 130, Luke Mahaney wrestled arguably the best tournament he has at the high school level. Mahaney beat Cole Fournier of Freeland 5-3 in the first round. Mahaney then beat Damien Flores of Kellogsville 5-4 in the quarter finals. Mahaney then beat Zach Young of Otisville Lakeville in the semi-finals 5-4 to advance to the state final match against Josh Rankin of Michigan Center. Mahaney and Rankin had met twice previously this season each winning one of the bouts. While wrestling well in the final match, Mahaney would come up short in a 4-2 match to become a runner up.
At 215, freshmen Zach Painter lost a difficult first round match to Dylan Hulliberger of Belding 14-11. Painter would then go on a terror to win four matches in a row to reach the consolation finals for third and fourth place in the state. Along this path, Painter would beat Cody Hansen of Benzie Central, both Max Swift and Caeden Ferris of Delton Kellogg and Nathan Nowik of Armada. Painter would fall in the consolation final to Zolan Marron of Lake Fenton to place fourth in a senior laden weight class. Painter becomes the first freshmen place winner in for Williamston since Andy Simmons did 20 years ago.
This weekend culminated a season where a handful of wrestlers continued to work and improve despite injuries, attrition and academic issues trimming the roster. At the end of the season, 10 individuals worked together to win a team district, to get to the team regional finals, advance seven individual regional qualifiers and five state qualifiers. With two seniors on the roster, and several middle school wrestlers coming up next year, the hornets are poised to continue to move forward next season.
