By Mike Wilson
Thirty-seven wrestlers are on this year’s wrestling team which consists of 11 seniors, including 2 foreign exchange students, 5 juniors, 4 sophomores and 12 freshmen.
Summary of this year’s season:
December 7, Home Invitational, Vicksburg won 4 matches and lost 1 as it defeated Berrien Springs, Coloma, Brandy Wine, and Buchanan.
December 11, the Bulldogs lost to Lawton but defeated Lake Shore Benton Harbor’s “B” Team.
December 14 at South Haven Invitational, Vicksburg came out on top 3-1, winning over South Haven, Bangor, Lakeshore “B” team and losing to Wayland.
The wrestlers were edged out in a nail- biter on December 18 at a Wolverine Conference Quad as they lost to both Edwardsburg and Niles.
In a team tournament at Lawton on December 21, the grapplers defeated Constantine.
Homer Invitational: On January 4, the Dawgs came out on top, defeating Centreville, Michigan Center, Pinckney and Reading. There, Ben Culver won his 100th career victory.
Coming back home on January 8, the Bulldogs defeated Otsego by a score of 40-38.
The next match they ran into a very strong Plainwell team losing 64-15.
On January 10, the JV team traveled to Union City where it found much success: 6 of the 10 wrestlers medaled.
Next, the Bronson team tournament came on January 11, where the Bulldogs won 2 and lost 2, defeating Coldwater and Brandywine and losing to Sturgis and Bronson.
On January 15, the team visited Three Rivers in a Quad meet and defeated Paw Paw.
The JV team with 16 wrestlers went to Portage Northern January 18,, found success and medaled. At the same time, 7 varsity players went to Reed City, and 5 of the 7 finished in the top 6 and medaled. Senior Skye Smith took 4th place and got his 100th career victory.
The team went to Paw Paw on January 22 for a Conference Quad Tournament.
Then on January 25, the team went to an invitational at Battle Creek before heading up to Holland on January 29.
Coach Mohney anticipates the team will face very strong competition at Regionals.
Head Coach Jeff Mohney looks for a rebuilding season next year as the team is losing 11 senior wrestlers and 6 starters out of 14 wrestlers. The freshmen this season have learned very quickly, and with a strong Middle School program; Coach Mohney sees some good wrestlers coming up to the high school next year.
Many parents and coaches support the wrestling program including Assistant Coach John Quellos, Assistant Coach Eric Stephenson, volunteer assistants Bill Rose, and James Bippus, Middle School Head Coach Brad Minnis, and Youth Wrestling Club Coach Dominick Lindsley.
