By Mark Blentlinger
Five Schoolcraft wrestlers were among the 1,200 athletes at Ford Field on March 3 and 4, all trying for the top spot in 14 different weight classes. One of the 222 female wrestlers, junior Treasure Fox, competed in the 135-pound weight class. Her first match was against the eventual State runner up, Caylynn Chandler of Birch Run. Chandler won by pin at the 1:49 mark of the second period.
Fox’s second match was against Raven Aldridge of Clinton. Although the match went the entire time, Fox again came up short, losing 0-8, ending her weekend.
Schoolcraft’s other wrestlers who competed that day were junior Ryan Ling in the 157-pound weight class, junior Isaac Noora in the 165-pound class, sophomore Gavin Hart in the 175-pound weight class and Tagg Gott in the 190-pound weight class.
Friday’s goal was to wrestle Saturday, which guarantees a spot in one of the podium’s eight places.
Gavin Hart lost his first match 0-9 to CJ Copeland of Lakeview. He won his next match, 11-6, against Lukas Strine of Reading. Hart lost his 3rd match against Colton Simmons of New Lothrop. Simmons pinned Hart at the 4:25 point in the 3rd period, eliminating Hart’s chances to compete Saturday.
Junior Isaac Noora won his first match against Logan Ryan of Hudson and lost his next match against Fulton Stroud from Iron Mountain. In his 3rd match, Noora pinned Aiden Fisher of Eau Clair at the 1:27 mark, allowing advancement to Saturday. During that day’s first match, Noora lost in his first round to Carter Cosby, 9-6. In his second round, Noora defeated Logan Ryan of Hudson for the second time in the tournament.
Junior Ryan Ling and Senior Tagg Gott both won their first 2 matches sending them directly into the semi-final match. With a win, both would be heading into the finals, wrestling for the state championship in their respective weight classes.
Ling wrestled against the reigning 157-pound state champion, Sebastian Martinez. In the 2nd period, Martinez pinned Ling at the 2:57 point. Ling wrestled for 3rd place against Carson Norton of Bronson. Again, Ling fell short, losing 1-4. Ling wrestled Samuel Vyner of Whitmore Prescott for 5th place. Ling won the match in the last few seconds with a reversal, winning 3-2.
In the semi-finals, Drew Allgyer of Bark River defeated Gott, 4-6. Gott dominated his next match against Eli DeYoung of Gobles, winning 7-0. After two full periods, Gott finished 3rd in the state by pinning opponent Logan Sallows of Hudson.