Andrew Morse was one of nine Lowell wrestlers to place at the Division 2 Individual State wrestling tournament Saturday at the Palace in Auburn Hills.
The Lowell senior, however, was the only Red Arrow to wrestle away a state title. Morse, 152 pounds, won his second individual title with a 4-2 win over St. John’s Travis Curly. He advanced to the finals with a 4-0 decision against Mason’s Nick Starzec.
Morse defended his 2011 individual state championship as he finished his stellar Lowell wrestling career with a perfect 34-0 record in his senior year.
Also looking to defend his 2010-11 state title was Gabe Morse. The senior entered the weekend with a 34-1 record. His only loss against St John’s Ben Whitford in the Division 2 team state championship.
Morse advanced to the individual title match at 140 pounds with a 4-2 win over Sparta’s Nick Trimble. The win set up a rematch between Morse and Whitford. The St John’s junior won for the second time within a week posting an 11-4 decision.
Morse finished his senior year with a record of 37-2.
Lowell senior Gabe Dean, Cornell bound in the fall, lost a 5-1 decision to Greenville’s Jordan Thomas in the 189 pound final. Dean finished his senior year at 30-4. Half of those losses came against Thomas.
Dean recorded a 21-6 technical fall against Wyoming Rogers’ Taylor Komoely to advance to the title match.
Freshman Josh Colegrove, 215 pounds, lost a 5-2 semi-final decision to Holly’s Shawn Scott (eventual state champion). He then dropped down and posted wins against Patrick Eldred (5-1) and Fowlerville’s Brian Moran (tech-fall 18-2) to finish third.
Colegrove was one of four freshmen to place in the top six.
Nate Limmex, 125, finished fourth, as he lost a heartbreaking 9-7 decision in overtime to Coopersville’s Alex Melinn.
Arthur Angus, 145 pounds, finshed the tourney with a 4-2 over New Boston Huron’s Logan Ritchie, placing him fifth.
Jordan Hall, 119 pounds, finished sixth after losing to Spring Lake’s Tyler Nietering via a pin at 3:41.
Sophmore Bailey Jack (112) and senior Garett Stehley (171) both placed sixth.