Krueger and McLennan claim runner-up medals

Huron senior Brian Krueger ended his career on the Michigan High School Athletic Association state final?s grandest stage last Saturday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Krueger, who compiled a four year record of 162-59, won his first three matches, including a 7-2 thriller in overtime, to advance to the state title match at 112 pounds, before losing 8-2 and coming away with a second place medal. It was not the result Krueger was looking for, but it is where every senior dreams they will end their career, under the bright lights on one of four mats at The Palace. The match was fairly close with Mykel Sumner of team state champion Addison. Down only 3-1, Krueger got locked up in a cradle and gave up four points, a point deficit that proved to be too much to overcome.

?I WAS WONDERING what I could have done more, but I don?t know what it is right now,? said Krueger, who had the affectionate nickname of ?Peanut.? He was given the nickname earlier in his career when he wrestled at 103 pounds, but yet weighed less than that. He was fifth at 103 in 2005, before moving up one weight class. ?It?s sad that I don?t get to wrestle anymore,? said Krueger in the concourse, amid a mass of family and friends taking pictures of all of the state placers from 112. ?That was awesome to make it out there. It was almost like a privilege to make it this far. All the hard work I did paid off.? Krueger won his first decisions 10-2 and 5-0 before taking Drew Ferry of Bronson to overtime in the semifinals. Krueger was part of a special group of seniors who helped Rogers City earn team runner-up honors at Battle Creek last year and won more than 661 matches.

THE OTHER Rogers City wrestler to compete for a state title was sophomore Chase McLennan at 171 pounds. He took one giant step up the podium from eighth as a freshman to second this year. Coming away from the championship match told Chase one thing: ?I?m not quite there yet, I guess.? To make it to the finals, McLennan defeated Adam Dickson in the quarterfinal round and then earned exciting one point victories against Brandon Shull of Bangor (2-1) and Nick Birchmeier of Maryville (8-7). He then was matched up with a familiar foe, Joe Wilson of Mio (54-2), a combatant he had faced throughout the season, including individual districts and regionals. ?He has been a great competitor. I have a lot of respect for him,? said McLennan. McLennan credited some of his success to having Centala as a teammate and working out with him this season. ?He has been a great friend and a teammate,? said McLennan. ?He has helped me along the way a lot and showed me how to be a champ.? McLennan finishes his season at 53-8.

THE HURON?S third placer at The Palace was junior Brent Freel, who earned a sixth place medal at 119. After Freel was edged 6-5 in his first match, he won th

ree straight bouts in the consolation bracket. He won 8-2, 14-3 and 5-3, before dropping a 5-2 match to Dan Sabin of Kent City. Freel was paired up with David Hofmann of Ithaca for fifth place and lost 4-3. Senior Cody Wenzel (140) wrestled eventual state runner-up Zac Chantrenne of Bronson and was pinned, but came back to win his first and only match at the state finals, The match did not get out of the first period (1:47). The finals trip came to an end for Cody, who had a career mark of 164-61, with a 4-3 loss. Fellow senior Mark Grulke lost both of his matches at 189, 17-8 and 12-2. His career mark was 115-89.

The records of the three remaining sophomore qualifiers are as follows: T.J. Sobeck (1-2), Tharin Wilk (1-2), and Jerome Gapczynski (1-2). Rogers City brought a record setting nine wrestlers to the state finals.