Evashevski Is 'Mr. Wrestler'; 2 Braves Finalists Two Gladstone High School wrestlers were finalists for the Upper Peninsula's "Mr. Wrestler Award". Braves seniors Josh Syverson (pictured at left in purple) and Cody Darling (below) were amongst five boys in the running for the award. In the end, the U.P.'s coaches selected St. Ignace wrestler John Evashevski. He finished his high school career with a 183-28 record, and was a state runner-up this month at the Indvidual Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills. Evashevski will attend the University of Michigan this fall. The other two finalists were Tim Tippett of Iron Mountain, and Andy Carpenter of Kingsford.

Six U.P. Wrestlers Win Finals Medals At Palace                   The MHSAA Individual Wrestling state finals wrapped up on Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills. There were 22 Upper Peninsula wrestlers involved in the tournament when it began, and six of them finished up on Saturday by earning medals. Ryan Gauthier of Iron Mountain (103 pounds) lost the state championship match to Dylan Bell of Decatur, 11-6. Gauthier settles for state runner-up. Also in Division Four, St. Ignace's John Evashevski (135 pounds) lost to Collin Zeerip of Hesperia, 6-4, to also settle for state runner-up. Iron Mountain's Dylan Carr (130) won a consolation match to finish fifth in the state. Rudyard's Brock Lewis finished fifth at 152, while St. Ignace's Galloway Thurston (160) and Joe Ostman (171) both finished sixth.                 Left photo: Gladstone's Josh Syverson (in white) battles Terner Gott of Otsego at the state finals. Right photo: Escanaba's Garrett Johnson battles Dezmond Jones of Highland Park at the Palace. Click here  to see more Eskymo photos and information. Click here for Division Two's Thursday results. Click here  for D-2 Friday's quarterfinal results. Click here  for Friday first round consolation results. Click here  for D-2 Friday second round consolation results. Click here  for Division Three's Thursday results. Click here  for D-3 Friday's quarterfinal results. Click here for Friday first round consolation results. Click here  for D-3 Friday second round consolation results. Click here  for the Division Four's Thursday results. Click here  for D-4 Friday's quarterfinal results. Click here for Friday's D-4 first round consolation results. Click here  for Friday's D-4 second round consolation results. Click here  for Friday's D-4 semifinal results.                       Escanaba's Alex Bockman (in white) gets a victory at the Palace. And below, Escanaba's three state qualifiers (in orange) watch the opening ceremonies. (We thank Linda Bockman for the photos all season long)

Iron Mountain Wrestlers Lose In Quarterfinals The Iron Mountain Mountaineers wrestling team jumped to an 18-0 lead in their state quarterfinal match against the New Lothrop Hornets in the MHSAA Division Four state quarterfinals at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek Friday night. But the downstate team dominated in the upper weight classes and eliminated the U.P.'s last-remaining wrestling team by a score of 39-21. Iron Mountain's Ryan Gauthier (103) and Luke Benbow (119) both pinned their opponents, and the Mountaineers got a forfeit at 112 pounds. That's how IM built the 18-0 lead. Chase Gendron got a win on points at 130 pounds to put the Mountaineers ahead, 21-6. But New Lothrop won the next nine matches. Click here  for a summary.

Three Eskymos, Three Braves Going to Palace                     Six Delta County high school wrestlers advanced Saturday to the MHSAA Individual Wrestling State Finals, which will be held at the Palace of Auburn Hills in March. At the Division 2 regional in Mt. Pleasant, Eskymo 189-pounder Alex Bockman won the regional championship by pinning Austin Brown of St. John's in 51 seconds. Bockman is pictured above in his U.P. Championship match from earlier this month. Escanaba's Garrett Johnson (152) finished third in the region, and Tristan Kang (140) was fourth in his weight class. Click here  to see all of the regional results. At the Division 3 regional in Roscommon, Gladstone wrestler Jake Hadel finished third in the heavweight class, while Josh Syverson (145) and Cody Darling (130) both finished fourth. Syverson is pictured below in an earlier match. Click here for results.

Gladstone Wrestlers Fall At Team Regionals The Gladstone Braves wrestling team lost in the Division Three Team Regional semifinals Wednesday night in Roscommon. The Braves lost to the host Bucks, 44-28, as they had to give away 12 points on forfeits. Cody Darling, Drew Scheeneman, and Jake Wydra registered pins for the Braves, while Josh Syverson won on a major decision. Six Gladstone wrestlers will take part in the Individual Regional Tournament on Saturday, also in Roscommon: Darling, Syverson, Wydra, Andy Kotowski, Eric Lasecki, Jake Hadel.

Escanaba Wrestlers Beaten In Regional Finals                     The Escanaba Eskymos advanced to the Division Two wrestling team regional championship match by beating Manistee, 55-24, in the semifinals Wednesday night in Bay City. But in the finals, the Eskymos were eliminated by Greenville, 63-15. Against Manistee, Tyler Beveridge, Kevin Bugay, Tristan Kang, Garrett Johnson, Tristan Kang, Kelly Rogers, Alex Bockman, and Kyle LaJoie all registered pins for the Eskymos. Against Greenville, Johnson pinned his opponent for his 100th career victory. Bockman also beat his opponent, 15-0, and Jeff Kuepper won his match, 12-2. Pictured are the Eskymo seniors and their district championship trophy. From left, Beveridge, Kang, Kuepper, Johnson, Bockman (in red), and Rogers. All of the seniors (except for Beveridge) will stay downstate and compete in the Individual Regional tournament on Saturday in Mt. Pleasant.

MHSAA Wrestling Team Regional Results DIVISION 2 at Bay City John Glenn Escanaba 55, Manistee 24 Greenville 50, Gaylord 9 Championship: Greenville 63, Escanaba 15 DIVISION 3 at Roscommon Roscommon 44, Gladstone 28 Ishpeming-Westwood 36, Kingsley 28 Championship: Roscommon 52, Ishpeming-Westwood 24 DIVISION 4 at Manistique Iron Mountain 36, Rogers City 24 Onaway 54, Munising 24 Championship: Iron Mountain 77, Onaway 0

Gladstone, Esky Wrestlers on to Regionals The Michigan High School Athletic Association's Individual Wrestling District Tournaments were held on Saturday. In Division Three, Gladstone had six boys advance to regionals: Cody Darling, Josh Syverson, Andy Kotowski, Eric Lasecki, Jake Hadel, and Jake Wydra. Click here  to see the full bracket results. In Division Two, Escanaba had five boys advance to regionals: Garrett Johnson, Alex Bockman, Tristan Kang, Kelly Rogers, and Jeff Keupper. Click here for full results.

MHSAA Wrestling Team District Results DIVISION 2 at Escanaba Escanaba 36, Petoskey 30 Marquette 78, Sault Ste. Marie 0 Final: Escanaba 48, Marquette 27 DIVISION 3 at Cheboygan Gladstone 56, Cheboygan 12 Final: Gladstone 51, Menominee 16 DIVISION 3 at Kingsford Ishpeming-Westwood 60, Kingsford 18 Final: Ishpeming-Westwood 54, Negaunee 12 DIVISION 4 at Iron Mountain Iron Mountain 66, Norway 11 Final: Iron Mountain 72, West Iron County 12 DIVISION 4 at Munising Manistique 48, Gwinn 30 Final: Munising 42, Manistique 36 DIVISION 4 at Newberry Rogers City 74, Rudyard 6 St. Ignace 59, Newberry 24 Final: Rogers City 48, St. Ignace 21

Eskymos Rally Twice To Win Wrestling District                     The Escanaba Eskymos trailed the Petoskey Northmen late in their district semifinal match Thursday night in Escanaba. But they rallied down the stretch to post a 36-30 win, then went on to pound Marquette, 48-27, in the championship match. Against Petoskey, the Northmen led 30-21 when Alex Bockman got a key pin at 189 pounds. Then Jeff Keupper won a 5-2 decision over Jake Kisro (PICTURED ABOVE) to tie the match, leaving it up to heavyweight Kyle LaJoie. LaJoie came through with a pin, giving Escanaba the win. The Eskymos also trailed Marquette, 18-12, before rallying again behind pins from Kevin Bugay, Tristan Kang, and Kelly Rogers. Escanaba advances to the regional tournament next Wednesday at Bay City John Glenn High School. The Eskymos beat Marquette, 48-27, in the championship. Pictured below: Rogers pins his Marquette opponent. Bottom photos: Sheri Berube in a battle against Petoskey, and the Escanaba team poses with its district championship trophy. (Linda Bockman photos)

Gladstone Wrestlers Win D-3 District Title The Gladstone Braves wrestling team won the Division 3 District Championship Wednesday in Cheboygan. The boys beat the host Chiefs, 56-12, in the semifinals; then they topped Menominee, 52-18, in the championship match. The Braves got revenge for last year's district tournament result, when they were upset by the Maroons. In the win over Cheboygan, the Braves got pins from Chris Walters, Cody Darling and Jake Wydra. In the win over Menominee, six Gladstone wrestlers got pins: Josh Syverson, Jake Hadel, Andy Kotowski, Scott Pardon, Drew Scheeneman, and Eric Lasecki. The Braves advance to the regionals next Wednesday in Roscommon.