Two qualify for state individual wrestling finals for Hurons
by Angie Asam–Staff Writer
Rogers City hosted a Division IV individual wrestling tournament Saturday. In a break before the finals the regional coaches and assistant coaches of the year were announced. Hurons head coach Pat Lamb and assistant coach Rob Kortman were selected by the coaches in the region to receive the awards. Rogers City had nine wrestlers competing in the regional tournament.
Junior Jacob Sobeck and senior Andrew Selke will be representing the Rogers City Hurons wrestling program at the individual state finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills Feb 27-March 1.
Selke returned to the mat this season after missing all of his junior season with a knee injury. In his freshman and sophomore campaigns he lost overtime matches that would have compelled him to the state tournament. He stepped foot on the mat this year and would not be denied.
“It is poetic justice for Andrew. He has worked very hard to get back on the mat and this is just the first step in his quest to be a state champion and hopefully things will fall into place for him,” said coach Lamb.
Selke was a crowned as a regional champion at 215 pounds Saturday and will advance to the state tournament for the first time. He started the day with a 6-0 win over Mancelona’s Tristan Waters. He then defeated Mio’s Colton McGregor 5-1 to advance to the finals where he pinned Pine River’s Dom Garcia in 3:06.
“If I am not mistaken I believe Andrew is the first regional champ we have had since D-Pom (Devin Pommerenke) in 2010. It was nice to finally get another one. Andrew sure wrestled well in the finals to seal the victory,” said coach Lamb.
He enters the state tournament as the No. 2 ranked wrestler in Division IV at 215 pounds. He will take on eighth-ranked Dakota Clark of New Lothrop in the first round of the state finals. Selke is 49-5 on the season while Clark, also a senior, is 29-12.
Jacob Sobeck will join Selke at the state tournament. Jacob Sobeck qualified as a sophomore and will look to improve upon his performance this time around. Jacob Sobeck was second at 140 pounds Saturday losing in the finals to No. 2 ranked Chase Siersema of Hesperia 14-3. Jacob pinned his way into the finals as he got Hart’s Brady Tate in 1:02 and Whittemore Prescott’s Dakotah Findlay in 1:51 to advance to the finals.
“Jake has just been dominant. He ran into a buzzsaw in the finals but I am really looking for Jake to do his best down at state and anything can happen. We are looking for a top five if not better place for Jake,” said coach Lamb.
Jacob Sobeck is 53-2 on the season and ranked No. 4 in the state. He will face junior Hayden Cregg of Holton in the opening round. Cregg enters with a 34-7 record.
SATURDAY MARKED the end of the careers of seniors Noah Sobeck, Jack Ryan and Jared LaFleche.
Noah Sobeck was 1-2 at 135 pounds. He defeated Tony Giftos of Manton 10-6 before falling to Ishpeming’s Johnathan Willey by pin in 1:48 and Hart’s Arturo Perez 4-0. Noah finished the season with a 38-16 record and his career record was 84-48.
Ryan was 1-2 on the day at 145 pounds. He fell to Pine River’s Kyle Nixon by pin in 35 seconds to start the day. Ryan rallied back with a 16-0 win over Jordan Brooks of Mio before falling 6-2 to Ishpeming’s Jordan Tousingnant to end his day. Ryan finished the season 35-19 with a career record of 116-70.
LaFleche competed at 171 pounds and also went 1-2. He fell to Pine River’s Adam Langworthy by pin in 5:32 before defeating Traverse City St. Francis’ Jake Klingelsmith 6-4. His day ended with a 9-0 loss to St. Ignace’s James Cryderman. LaFleche finished the season at 40-17 and his career record is 82-95.
Junior Cameron Urban was 1-2 on the day at 130 pounds. He fell to Matt Mawby of Traverse City St. Francis by pin in 1:38 before pinning Ishpeming Westwood’s Vincente Carlson in 21 seconds. He then fell 14-4 to Iron Mountain’s Alex Edwards. Urban was 48-8 this season.
Junior Aus
Sophomore Justin Saile finished his season with a 43-10 record. He was 1-2 at 125 pounds Saturday. He fell to No. 1 ranked Zach Yates of Hesperia by pin in 1:07 before defeating Norway’s Donny Houle 7-4. He then fell to Hesperia’s Logan Eaves by pin in 1:35 to end his day.
Sophomore Tommy Vogelheim also competed at 103 on the day. Vogelheim fell to Mio’s Patrick Stephens by pin in 1:50 and Norway’s Zac DeCremer by pin in 1:46. Vogelheim was 31-19 on the season.
LAST WEDNESDAY the Hurons fell to Norway in the regional semifinals 39-24. Winning matches for the Hurons were Saile, Urban, Noah Sobeck, Jacob Sobeck, LaFleche and Selke. The team finished with a 28-7 record.