The required amount of preparation and good energy advanced Lowell to the Division 2 wrestling semi final on Saturday.
The Red Arrows won nine of 14 matches against Stevensville-Lakeshore en route to a 45-21 quarterfinal win over the Lancers. The two teams met early in the year with Lowell winning 52-15.
The reward for winning Friday night will be a Saturday afternoon match-up with the number one team in Division 2, St. John’s. The Redwings blasted past Dearborn Heights Crestwood 75-5 to advance into the semi finals.
“The match-up is a tall order,” said Lowell wrestling coach Dave Dean. “It’s one we would have liked to have done in the finals.”
Lowell lost its opening match at 135 before reeling off seven wins in eight matches to take a 33-9 lead.
The win marked the second time in three years Lowell has reached the semi finals. Two years ago it won a state championship, and last year it lost in the Division I regional final to Rockford.
Lakeshore’s frustrating season ended at 23-12.
“After defeating Penn High School (in Indiana’s state semi final) we have not been full strength,” said Lancer wrestling coach Bruce Bittenbender. “We’ve had water in the gas tank all year.”
Lowell was one of two O-K White schools to reach the semi final. Greenville also advanced. The Yellowjackets defeated Holly, 37-23.
“Holly was good down low. We were able start off well before getting to where they were strong,” said Greenville coach Paul Johnson. “We’re glad to be moving on and to have the opportunity to match-up against a strong Tecumseh team (31-24 winner over Allegan).”
MATCH RESULTS:
135 0 3 Travis Dragomer (SL) Dec Kanon Dean (L), 5-2
140 5 3 Gabe Morse (L) Tech Fall Dillon Burnside (SL), 25-10 4:04
145 10 3 Dan Fleet (L) Tech Fall Connor Brandt (SL), 25-10 4:41
152 16 3 Andrew Morse (L) Fall J.P. McDougall (SL), :40
160 21 3 Jake Stehley (L) Tech Fall Matt Reynolds (SL), 19-2 3:41
171 21 9 Nick Aadms (SL) Fall Wade Schlosser (L), 1:54
189 24 9 Garett Stehley (L) Dec Tyler Tiefenbach (SL), 6-1
215 30 9 Gabe Dean (L) Fall Sebastian Avello (SL), 1:32
285 33 9 Luke Stephens (L) Dec Spencer Lemley (SL), 5-3 (TB)
103 33 12 Gunner Harrison (SL) Dec Darek Krajewski (L), 4-2
112 33 15 Patrick Blommel (SL) Dec Bailey Jack (L), 5-3
119 39 15 Kalvin Meyer (L) Inj Def Tyler Daniel (SL), 3:58
125 45 15 Zack Jeffries (L) Fall Michael Fowler (SL), 1:54
130 45 21 Sam Hanau (SL) Fall Zach Graves (L), :11
