Wrestlers pin down titles

Sunday, February 11, 2007

FROM LOCAL REPORTS

Whitehall is certainly wrestling like a Top 10 team even if the rankings don't reflect it.

The Vikings' deep lineup was too much for Shelby and the rest of the field to overcome Saturday as Whitehall claimed the West Michigan Conference title on its home mat.

The Vikings totaled 267.5 points and set a conference tournament record in the process by reaching the finals in all 14 weight classes. Whitehall won six individual finals.

"Fourteen in the finals is absolutely unheard of," said Whitehall coach Larry Haughn. "It was an outstanding team performance. I don't think we wrestled above our abilities, (but) everyone wrestled well on the same day and that had to happen."

Whitehall had the title all but wrapped up by the championship round even without all-stater Lauren Haughn, who was out with the flu. Jordan Clarke (125), Kelvin Jackson (130), Keith McEntaffer (152), Shane Boyer (171), Steve Shields (189) and Josh Short (215) won their finals matches for the Vikings.

Shelby had five champions and placed second with 204.5 points. Hart was third with 146.5 points and two champions, Mason County Central was fourth with 118.5 and one champ, and Montague finished fifth with 102 points.

The Tigers beat Whitehall in five finals matches to take some solace in second place.

"Shelby's kids are tough," said Haughn, whose team defeated Shelby in a regular-season dual. "We took it to them up at Shelby. But it is going to be a battle back-and-forth. We are not going to win against them all the time and they are not going to win against us all the time."

Whitehall must now focus on next week's team district at Spring Lake. The Division 3 district features three conference champions in Whitehall (WMC), Spring Lake (Lakes 8) and No. 9-ranked Allendale (O-K Silver). The Vikings beat both teams in the regular season.

"If we stay healthy, and get healthy, we have an excellent shot at winning the district," said Haughn. "But we are going to have to be ready to battle."

Lakes 8 Conference Tournament -- At Spring Lake, the host Lakers stepped up in the finals to edge Fremont by 7.5 points for the conference title. Spring Lake beat the Packers in each of the team's five head-to-head meetings in the finals and finished with six individual champions and 205 points. Fremont, which beat SL in a regular-season dual, had two champions and 197.5 points. Grant followed in a distant third with 114 points and Ludington was fourth with 95. The Lakers' Cory Gould (103), Cory Gray (130), CR Mohrhardt (135), Justin Herder (140) and Nick Miller (189) all won in the finals against opponents from Fremont. SL's David Ritchie also won at 112.

O-K Green Conference Tournament -- Host Reeths-Puffer took second place behind Zeeland West. The Rockets reached eight finals matches, winning four and totaling 195 points. Zeeland West had six champions and 209 points. Mona Shores and Muskegon each had a pair of champions and placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

O-K Red Conference Tournament -- At Holland, top-ranked Rockford asserted its power with a near 100-point win. The Rams totaled 233 points and had seven individual champions and two runner-up finishes. Grand Haven (128.5) placed a disappointing third behind Jenison (137.5). The Buccaneers' Derek Houseman won in the finals at 140 as did teammate Seth Holt at 189. John Houseman (130), D.J. Brandon (160) and Dan O'Neill (285) placed runner-up for the Bucs.

O-K Silver Conference Tournament -- At Allendale, Kent City took third place behind Allendale and Kelloggsville. The Eagles' Dan Sabin (119) and Jeremy Peterson (140) won finals duals and Jeff Sabin (125) and Andy O'Leary (285) were runners-up in championship matches.



Wrestlers pin down titles Sunday, February 11, 2007 FROM LOCAL REPORTS Whitehall is certainly wrestling like a Top 10 team even if the rankings don't reflect it. The Vikings' deep lineup was too much for Shelby and the rest of the field to overcome Saturday as Whitehall claimed the West Michigan Conference title on its home mat. The Vikings totaled 267.5 points and set a conference tournament record in the process by reaching the finals in all 14 weight classes. Whitehall won six individual finals. "Fourteen in the finals is absolutely unheard of," said Whitehall coach Larry Haughn. "It was an outstanding team performance. I don't think we wrestled above our abilities, (but) everyone wrestled well on the same day and that had to happen." Whitehall had the title all but wrapped up by the championship round even without all-stater Lauren Haughn, who was out with the flu. Jordan Clarke (125), Kelvin Jackson (130), Keith McEntaffer (152), Shane Boyer (171), Steve Shields (189) and Josh Short (215) won their finals matches for the Vikings. Shelby had five champions and placed second with 204.5 points. Hart was third with 146.5 points and two champions, Mason County Central was fourth with 118.5 and one champ, and Montague finished fifth with 102 points. The Tigers beat Whitehall in five finals matches to take some solace in second place. "Shelby's kids are tough," said Haughn, whose team defeated Shelby in a regular-season dual. "We took it to them up at Shelby. But it is going to be a battle back-and-forth. We are not going to win against them all the time and they are not going to win against us all the time." Whitehall must now focus on next week's team district at Spring Lake. The Division 3 district features three conference champions in Whitehall (WMC), Spring Lake (Lakes 8) and No. 9-ranked Allendale (O-K Silver). The Vikings beat both teams in the regular season. "If we stay healthy, and get healthy, we have an excellent shot at winning the district," said Haughn. "But we are going to have to be ready to battle." Lakes 8 Conference Tournament -- At Spring Lake, the host Lakers stepped up in the finals to edge Fremont by 7.5 points for the conference title. Spring Lake beat the Packers in each of the team's five head-to-head meetings in the finals and finished with six individual champions and 205 points. Fremont, which beat SL in a regular-season dual, had two champions and 197.5 points. Grant followed in a distant third with 114 points and Ludington was fourth with 95. The Lakers' Cory Gould (103), Cory Gray (130), CR Mohrhardt (135), Justin Herder (140) and Nick Miller (189) all won in the finals against opponents from Fremont. SL's David Ritchie also won at 112. O-K Green Conference Tournament -- Host Reeths-Puffer took second place behind Zeeland West. The Rockets reached eight finals matches, winning four and totaling 195 points. Zeeland West had six champions and 209 points. Mona Shores and Muskegon each had a pair of champions and placed fourth and fifth, respectively. O-K Red Conference Tournament -- At Holland, top-ranked Rockford asserted its power with a near 100-point win. The Rams totaled 233 points and had seven individual champions and two runner-up finishes. Grand Haven (128.5) placed a disappointing third behind Jenison (137.5). The Buccaneers' Derek Houseman won in the finals at 140 as did teammate Seth Holt at 189. John Houseman (130), D.J. Brandon (160) and Dan O'Neill (285) placed runner-up for the Bucs. O-K Silver Conference Tournament -- At Allendale, Kent City took third place behind Allendale and Kelloggsville. The Eagles' Dan Sabin (119) and Jeremy Peterson (140) won finals duals and Jeff Sabin (125) and Andy O'Leary (285) were runners-up in championship matches. ©2007 Muskegon Chronicle © 2007 Michigan Live. All Rights Reserved.