Hurons win 21st straight district title in Onaway

Huron wrestlers took home the big prize for winning their third consecutive Straits Area Conference meet, and kept the express rolling with its 21st consecutive district title won in Onaway Wednesday (February 14).

The streak goes back to 1987 and began under coach Warren Gleason when nine wrestlers qualified for the regional tournament, back before team and individual tournaments were split. Those on that squad to advance, and to set the standard for many teams to follow were: John Van Hoesen, Al LaLonde, Scott Hein, Jay Van Hoesen, and state qualifiers Wayne Repke, Darwin Snow, Jim Schleben, Wayne Saile, and Jere Getzinger. That team went on to place 13th at the state meet.

Now fast-forward to the present with coach Pat Lamb?s squad (23-2) who made it 21 years in a row as several next-generation wrestlers compete for the Orange and Black. Rogers City started the night with a 70-8 win over Boyne City, then beat Onaway 47-2 in the district finals. Double winners for the Hurons were Jacob Vogler (112), Michael Vogler (119), Alex Matthews (125), Brent Freel (130), Tharin Wilk (135), Zak McLennan (140), Tyler Schuiteman (152), Jerome Gapczynski (160), Chase McLennan (171), and Derek Schleben (215). TJ Sobeck (103) and Noah Farmer (285) won one match each. The Hurons advance to the regional round in Munising February 21.

THOSE TOUGH wrestlers won the SAC tournament in convincing fashion last Saturday. The Hurons rang up 169 points and were followed by Sault Ste. Marie with 133, Onaway at 123.5, Mio 122, St. Ignace 117.5, Cheboygan 73, Rudyard 68, and Newberry 28. Brent Freel (130), Tharin Wilk (135), and Chase McLennan (171) claimed championships. ?It was Mr. Freel?s fourth consecutive SAC individual championship in his brilliant wrestling career at RCHS,? Lamb said. Second place at the SAC tournament were TJ Sobeck (103), Jacob Vogler (112), and Tyler Schuiteman (152). Third place finishers were Michael Vogler (119), Alex Matthews (125), Dustin Hein (145), and Jerome Gapczynski. Zak McLennan placed fourth at the

THE INDIVIDUAL districts are set for Saturday at Rogers City with the Hurons hosting wrestlers from Boyne City, Charlevoix, Fife Lake-Forest Area, Frankfort (Onekama , Bear Lake), Hale, Kingsley Area, Leroy-Pine River Area, Mancelona, Manton, Mio-Au Sable, Onaway Area, Traverse City-St Francis, and Whittemore-Prescott. Individual regionals are February 24 at Manton and the state individual tournament is March 8-10 at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Team finals are March 2-3 at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. The Hurons were state runner-up in Division 4 in 2005, losing to Addison, 45-22, in the finals.

Last season the Hurons made it to the state semifinal round, defeating Lutheran Westland (56-12), before losing to runner-up Hesperia (45-30). Addison topped Hesperia (36-25) to claim its second straight state title.