Hurons win 32nd-district wrestling title

by Angie Asam — Staff Writer

For the 32nd time in its 45-year history the Rogers City Huron wrestling team won a district title Thursday night in Charlevoix.

The Hurons defeated Charlevoix 50-30 in the semifinals to move on to the finals against county rival Onaway.

Onaway has beaten the Hurons twice this season with both matches ending in a 42-42 tie and the Cardinals wining on criteria for scoring the most first points in the matches.

Thursday would be a different story. Starting weight for the finals was 152 pounds and the teams double voided. At 160 pounds Rogers City senior Jacob Sobeck pinned Troy Klein to give his team a 6-0 lead.

At 171 pounds Austin Bober took on Elijah Shockley. With Shockley up late in the match Bober hit an ankle pick and appeared to get the takedown, however, the referee did not award the takedown and Bober would lose the match making the team score 6-3. Juan Beltran was pinned by Lucas Tollini at 189 pounds and the Cardinals led 9-6. After the Hurons voided at 215 the Cardinals led 15-6.

Senior Laine Curtis stepped on the mat for the heavyweight against Keegan Freel and hit a headlock and arm and settled in for the pin making it 15-12.

Onaway voided at 103 and 112 and the Hurons took a 24-15 lead. Defending state champion and Onaway senior Joe Traynham defeated the Hurons’ Tristan Baller by technical fall at 119 and the score was 24-20 in favor of the Hurons.

Freshman Andrew Haselhuhn was pinned by Onaway’s Zeke

Nave at 125 and Onaway again led 26-24. Zach Myers lost by pin at 130 to Ray Self and Onaway led 32-24.

Junior Justin Saile won by pin at 135 to make the score 32-30 in favor of Onaway with two matches to go.

Sophomore Max Kowalewsky then pulled out a big pin over Onaway’s Devin Tulgestke at 140 to give the Hurons the 36-30 lead. Onaway would void to senior Cameron Urban at 145 pounds and the Hurons this time won 42-32.

Double winners for the Hurons were Sam Sobeck (103), Tommy Vogelheim (112), Saile (135), Kowalewsky (140), Urban (145/52) and Jacob Sobeck (160). Ethan Bannon (145) was 1-0.

Going 1-1 on the day were Baller (119), Bober (171) and Curtis (285). The Hurons now advance to the team regional meet Wednesday in Leroy Pine River where they will take on North Star League foe Mio in the semifinals. The winner of that match will take on the winner of the match between Pine River and Traverse City St. Francis.

The Rogers City Hurons wrestling team won its 32nd district title Thursday.