Pommerenke finishes undefeated at national tournament
Rogers City eighth grader Devin Pommerenke went 7-0 at the USA National Championships last weekend in Danville, Illinois to earn junior All American honors. In a truly a dominating performance, Pommerenke had five pins and two major decisions on his way to a 7-0 finish. Three of his pins were in less than a minute.
With a team-leading 38 points, Pommerenke helped Michigan Elite earn fourth place of the 20 teams competing, behind Illinois Gold, California, and Team Jordan. The only surprise at the end of the tournament was that Pommerenke did not win the team MVP trophy. The next closest wrestler had 21 team points.
In dual competion, Michigan Elite blasted the Ohio Blast, 95-6, in opening pool action, and then skunked Ohio Lightning, 88-0. They lost their first match of the tournament to Illinois Gold, 44-32, but came back to defeat a squad from Wyoming, 88-15. The Michigan team got by Indiana Gold in the quarterfinals, but lost to Team Jordan in the semifinals, 64-22. In the dual for third, Pommerenke?s team dropped the match, 58-19.
The Pommerenke family has done a lot of traveling the last couple of months, but Devin?s father, Rhiny, said it was the best way to find some tougher competition that will help his son improve. Pommerenke will be looking to compete for a starting spot on a senior-loaded Rogers City wrestling squad next winter.