Another lofty ambition will be pursued as C-S-M faces
Union City in quarterfinal match February 21
Union City in quarterfinal match February 21
It’s been no secret since the beginning of the season, advancing to the Division 4 team state finals again has been a goal of the Climax-Scotts-Martin co-op wrestling team.
The local co-op wrestling team earned a spot in the Division 4 Team State Finals the last two years, creating high expectations again this year.
Team Hybrid met that goal by winning a third straight team regional February 12 at Decatur and will face Union City in the Division 4 team quarterfinals Friday, February 21 in the Team State Finals event at noon at Wings Stadium.
C-S-M, the No. 3 seed, brings a 24-1 record into the quarterfinal contest while Union City, the No. 6 seed, sports a 26-4 record.
The winner will face the winner of No. 2 seed St. Louis (28-0) and No. 7 seed Charlevoix (15-8) in the semifinals February 22 at 9:30 a.m.
In the other quarterfinals bracket, No. 1 seed Hudson (26-5) will square off against Roscommon (17-9) at noon and No. 4 seed Otisville LakeVille Memorial (35-1) will face Clinton (26-10) at noon.
The two winners will wrestle in the semifinals at 9:30 a.m. February 22 and the State Finals match is scheduled for February 22 at 3:45 p.m.
After CSM defeated Lawton 77-5 in the team regional semifinals and then Decatur 62-17 in the regional championship match, euphoria, a feeling of accomplishment and looking forward to competing in a big stage environment, was all present. Especially for the seniors, who will be enjoying their third straight trip to the Team State Finals.
“It feels real good. There’s a different type of emotion going into a stadium at state. It’s a fun experience and I’m glad we get to go there for a third time,” said C-S senior Sam Bleeker.
After enjoying the team regional championship, thoughts quickly turned to the Team State Finals the local co-op wrestling team is about to wrestle in for a third straight year.
“It’s a fantastic feeling. We set goals in the beginning of the season and we’ve achieved part of it. We’re heading back to Wings Stadium. We’ve still got a lot of work left to do.
We’re going to take it, like I always say, one match at a time, one duel at a time, and then move on to the next. I’m super proud of these kids on the team, their hard work, their efforts, battling sicknesses the last few weeks and the kids are still showing up and performing. I couldn’t be more happier with the group of wrestlers we have,” said C-S coach Mike Reitz.
Reitz has always emphasized focusing on the next match and feels Union City will bring a tough lineup.
“Getting the three seed is better then I expected. It’s tough. Union City is 15 miles down the road and that’s the team we draw to wrestle in the first round. Obviously, being the 3 seed gives us an opportunity to go further than we ever have at Team State. But we have to get past Union City. We are going to have to put out our best line up and our hammers line up with theirs. Those matches have to stay close and we must get bonus points on their other guys,” observed Reitz.
Mixed in with the celebratory mood at the team regionals, was a feeling that some unfinished business still needed to be taken care of.
C-S-M advanced to the Division 4 Team State Finals event in 2023 and downed New Lothrop 38-29 in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Hudson 51-12 in the semifinals.
Last year C-S-M lost to St. Louis 39-26 in the Division 4 quarterfinals at Wings Stadium.
“We completed our goal of making the Team State (Finals) since the first day of the year. Now, we’re hoping to do even more,” said senior Logan Gilbert.
“After making it the last two years to the state tournament, I feel the bar has been raised and as the coaches were saying, the job’s not done yet. We can’t be satisfied with just making it. We want to be in the finals,” adds senior Cole Reitz.
C-S senior Jackson Bagwell said winning a third straight team regional was satisfying, but he feels the team has elevated their goals.
“It’s a lot of fun. There’s no better feeling. We got the job done tonight, now we need to not be satisfied with it and go get the job done next week,” said the C-S senior.
Hudson, state champions the last three years and 11-time state champion in Division 4 since 1996, are once again favorites to return to the state championship match. Hudson is led by highly respected coach Scott Marry, who has a 943-210 record and has led the Tigers to 11 state championships and four runnerup finishes in Division 4 in 37 years as the Hudson coach.
“I would love nothing more than to meet Hudson in the finals. But, as I always say, we can’t look past anyone. We need to wrestle one dual at a time, one match at a time.
Everyone must have the same goals for Team State and must believe in themselves and the team. I truly believe if the boys go out and wrestle for each other, their schools and towns we have a great shot and meeting Hudson in the finals,” adds C-S coach Mike Reitz.
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