Escanaba Wrestling Wins District Championship
Adam Hinch Daily Press
A solid team effort led Escanaba wrestling to a district championship in division two on Wednesday. The Eskymos defeated Sault Ste Marie 39-27 for the title.
Royer and Chiu Shine in Individual Matches
Escanaba sophomore Chase Royer claimed victory in the 113-lb class by defeating the Blue Devils’ Chase Tracey with a pin at 2:55 into the match. Royer expressed his pride in the team’s district championship, stating, “We worked hard all year to see if we were good enough to win and we came out and got it done.”
In the 144-pound class, Escanaba senior Nick Chiu faced off against Sam Kiekhaefer of Sault Ste Marie and secured the win by decision with two takedowns, two reversals, and a pair of near falls. Chiu explained, “I work hard and capitalized off his mistakes and came away with the win.”
Team Win Avenges Previous Loss
The district championship victory also served as redemption for Escanaba, as it avenged a previous loss to the Blue Devils earlier in the season. Eskymos coach Josh Ling expressed his team’s determination, stating, “We lost to them over Christmas break, and we have worked our butts off to get here and winning makes the blood, sweat, and tears worth it.”
Other Highlights and Regional Tournament
Cannon Arnt secured a victory in the 150-pound class with a pin in the final :30 seconds of the third round. The match between Sault Ste Marie and Marquette also showcased some exciting matches, with Blue Devil’s Calvin Aldrich and Max Vandoren emerging victorious in their respective weight classes.
In the team regionals next week, Escanaba will face off against Gaylord at a yet-to-be-determined site.
Full Match Results
Here are the complete match results:
(Include the complete match results as listed in the original article)
