Pommerenke wins third straight, two other Hurons medal
by Angie Asam, Staff Writer
Junior Devin Pommerenke (285) joined an elite class of wrestlers Saturday as he won his third-straight Marquette Challenge title. ?Devin, what do you say about the big boy? He is just unbelievable. His focus is uncanny. He focuses for every match. It?s great that he won his third in a row and is set to take four in a row, a major accomplishment as that tournament gets tougher every year,? said coach Pat Lamb.
In his first match of the day, Devin Pommerenke defeated Sam Kateke of Merril with a 46-second pin. He then pinned Alex Urbia of Marquette in just eight seconds. In the semifinals against Adam Robinson of Mason, Pommerenke took 1:40 to pin his opponent and move onto the finals.
Against Brandon Garlinghouse of Sault Ste. Marie, a very familiar opponent, in the finals Devin would again win by pin in 2:24 to earn his third-straight challenge title. ?I am so proud of Devin for not only the way he wrestles but the way he carries himself and the way he cares about his team. He is the ultimate team guy,? said coach Lamb. Fellow junior Keegan Urban (130) defeated Matt Ruby of Ishpeming 9-1 and Wade Erhardt of New Lothrop 3-2 in ultimate overtime. With a 2-2 score to end regulation neither man could muster a takedown. After two more overtime periods with neither wrestler scoring, Erhardt had the choice for ultimate overtime. He chose top and Urban earned an escape right away to take the match.
?He was so excited he came running over to me and I said no you have to stay on the mat and go shake that guy?s hand. That is seven and a half minutes of hard nosed wrestling. To persevere in a match like that is just awesome? said coach Lamb. Urban went on and fell to Ray Paul of Merril 8-4 in the semifinals and then fell to Cody Darling of Gladstone 10-3 to place fourth at the tournament.
?I can?t say enough about Keegan Urban this year, he is on fire. He is very coachable and is a very likeable young man. He goes out there and gives us everything he?s got every time. The sky is the limit for what Keegan can accomplish this year,? said Coach Lamb. Fres
Junior Travis Fleis (119) was 2-2 on the day to place sixth as the only other Huron to place. Sophomore Joey Sobeck (112) and freshman Caleb Pommerenke (171) each went 2-2 on the day. Going 1-2 on the day were senior Ben Tulgestke (160) and junior Daniel Marx (140). WEDNESDAY THE HURONS hosted a quad meet with Ogemaw Heights, Oscoda and Alpena in town.
The Hurons defeated Oscoda 52-16 and Ogemaw 49-21. Double winners for the Hurons were Sobeck (112), Fleis (119), Lamb (125), Urban (130), Zach Pierce (145), Tulgestke (160), Caleb Pommerenke (171), Jacob Reisener (189) and Devin Pommerenke (285). Winning one match were Blaise Ryan (135) and Daniel Marx (140). The Hurons are back in action on Wednesday Dec. 30 when they host the Bill Barrett Memorial tournament. The dual tournament is set to start at 10 a.m. featuring six teams; Rogers City, Alpena, St. Ignace, Onaway, Gladstone and Cheboygan.