Wrestlers go undefeated to claim state finals weight class championships


Pictured (left to right) are Division 4 Individual All-State medals winners from the Climax-Scotts-Martin co-op wrestling team, Jackson Bagwell (8th), Cole Reitz (4th), Haylen Buell (1st), Logan Gilbert (1st) and Jayce Ritchie (6th).


Pictured above is C-S junior Sam Bleeker competing in the Division 4 Individual State Finals at Ford Field March 1.

(Photos by Paula Reitz)

By Bruce Rolfe

Five out of the six members of the Climax-Scotts-Martin co-op wrestling team earned All-State medals with top eight finishes at the Division 4 Individual State Finals March 1 and 2 at Ford Field.

Climax-Scotts High School junior Logan Gilbert and Martin sophomore Haylen Buell both posted 4-0 records to earn weight class championships. C-S sophomore Cole Reitz finished fourth, Martin junior Jayce Ritchie finished sixth and C-S junior Jackson Bagwell placed eighth. C-S junior Sam Bleeker also participated in the State Finals but dropped his first two matches.

Gilbert, wrestling in the 106-pound weight class, is now a two-time state champion and three-time All-State medalist after placing first in his weight class his freshman season and second last year.

The C-S junior pinned Manistique’s Landon Weber (31-13) in 1:33 in the first round, pinned Hesperia senior Stephen Priese in 1:52, and moved into the championship match with a 19-4 technical fall in 4:29 over New Lothrop junior Blake Wendling in the third round.Gilbert earned his second state championship with a 5-2 win over River View Gabriel Richards freshman Jordan Zambon in the championship match. Gilbert finishes the season with a 52-3 record

Buell (132-pound weight class) won three matches by pins and one by a decision on the way to his state championship. He pinned Inland Lakes freshman Gus Carper in 3:29 in the first round, pinned Perry sophomore Aiden Turner in 1:40, won a 9-2 decision over Union City junior Alex Boyer, and won his state championship match by a pin in 2:24 over Union City junior Logan Mears.

Buell, now a two-time state medalist after finishing second last year, finishes the season with a 45-4 record.

Reitz (120) pinned his first round opponent, Addison sophomore Iverson Espinoza-Rojo in 2:56. He recorded a 9-3 decision over Benzie Central junior Benjamin Deridder in the second round, lost to eventual state champion Hudson sophomore Nicholas Sorrow by a pin in 1:00, but defeated Espinoza-Rojo again by a pin in 2:03 to move into the third and fourth place match. Reitz fell to Gobles freshman Finn Carlin by a pin in 2:19. Reitz completes the season with a 39-12 record.

Ritchie (126) lost his first round match to Hanover-Horton’s David Fielder (46-6) by a 2-1 decision but advanced to the third round by defeating Iron Mountain sophomore Di’Angelo Saldana (24-19) by a pin in 2:14. The Martin junior won his third round match over Inland Lakes sophomore Wyatt Hanel by a 7-4 decision and then earned a 5-2 decision over Bronson junior Owen Kimmons for a chance for fifth place. He was pinned by St. Louis junior Colin Kuhn in 2:12, settling for a sixth place finish. Ritchie, who also placed sixth at the individual state finals last year for an All-State medal, finishes the season with a 31-7 record.

Bagwell (144) lost his first round match by a 4-2 decision to Pine River sophomore Jericho Holmes (35-4). The C-S junior bounced back however with a pin in 4:58 over Munising junior Korbin Smith (23-19) in the second round, followed by a 7-0 win over Leslie senior Evin Everett. The C-S junior then lost to Gobles senior Trenton Mansfield by a sudden victory 4-2 decision before falling to Union City junior Aidan Taylor by a 4-1 decision in the seventh and eighth place match.

Bagwell, who qualified for the Individual State Finals last year but did not medal, finishes the season with a 52-13 record.

Bleeker dropped his opening round match to Charlevoix senior Landon Swanson (46-2) by a 8-0 major decision and then lost to St. Louis senior Ramon Anguiano (38-13) by a 6-4 score. He finishes the season with a 34-18 record.

The Climax Crescent would like to thank Paula Reitz for providing photographs and updates from Ford Field in Detroit during this event.

––––––––––––––––––––
 Subscribe to the Legal News!
 https://legalnews.com/Home/Subscription
Full access to public notices, articles, columns, archives, statistics, calendar and more
Day Pass Only $4.95!
One-County $80/year
Three-County & Full Pass also available