By Bruce Rolfe
After advancing to the Team State Finals the last two seasons, the Climax-Scotts-Martin co-op wrestling team will embark on the new season with not only a deep motivation to get back to the coveted weekend event at Wings Stadium for a third straight season, but would also like to take the program to a higher level.
The team talked about the need for commitment after St. Louis defeated C-S-M in the Division 4 quarterfinals, ending the season February 23 at Wings Stadium.
The team won conference, district, and regionial championship trophies on the way to an impressive 26-6 overall record.
However after the bar was elevated two years ago, a 39-26 loss to St. Louis in the Division 4 quarterfinals left coaches and players reflecting on portions of the regular season when a few more wins could have brought the team a higher seed and possibly a better chance to advance further.
Now, coaches and returners along with a group of talented incoming freshmen and sophomores are eager to see if off season training and that motivation can land the team into unchartered territory.
“Our current goal is to make it to the competition on Saturday afternoon (semifinals and finals), looking to compete with the Division 4 powerhouse Hudson. Our freshman class is looking really tough and they completely understand the team goal and expectations. Everyone is working hard and looking forward to competing the first week in December,” points out C-S coach Mike Reitz, entering his second year as head coach at C-S after five years as a varsity assistant and seven years as a youth coach.
Four Division 4 Individual State Finals qualifiers from C-S and two Individiaul State Finals qualifiers from Martin return to the lineup.
From the Climax-Scotts side, five starters, including four individual state medal winners return.
Senior Logan Gilbert (120/126) was a state champion last year at 106 pounds, is a two time state champion and three-time All-State medalist. He completed the season with a 52-3 record. Senior Sam Bleeker (215/285) is a returning state qualifier at 215 pounds. Senior Cole Reitz (132), finished fourth at the individual state finals last year at 120 pounds and finished the season with a 39-12 record. Senior Jackson Bagwell (157) is a two-time individual state finals qualifier, finishing eighth for a medal last year at 144 pounds. He finished the season with a 52-13 record. Junior Malcolm Smith (190/215) is the other returning starter who also enjoyed a strong season last year.
On the Martin side of the co-op, junior Haylen Buell and senior Jayce Ritchie are returning starters. Buell, a two-time state qualifier, was a state champion at 132 pounds last season when he finished the season 42-4. Ritchie is a two-time individual state finals qualifier, finishing 6th the last two years including last year at the 126 pound weight class when he finished the season with a 31-7 record.
“We also have a strong freshman class and some returning underclassmen hoping to break into the lineup,” observed Reitz.
After advancing to the Team State Finals the last two seasons, the Climax-Scotts-Martin co-op wrestling team will embark on the new season with not only a deep motivation to get back to the coveted weekend event at Wings Stadium for a third straight season, but would also like to take the program to a higher level.
The team talked about the need for commitment after St. Louis defeated C-S-M in the Division 4 quarterfinals, ending the season February 23 at Wings Stadium.
The team won conference, district, and regionial championship trophies on the way to an impressive 26-6 overall record.
However after the bar was elevated two years ago, a 39-26 loss to St. Louis in the Division 4 quarterfinals left coaches and players reflecting on portions of the regular season when a few more wins could have brought the team a higher seed and possibly a better chance to advance further.
Now, coaches and returners along with a group of talented incoming freshmen and sophomores are eager to see if off season training and that motivation can land the team into unchartered territory.
“Our current goal is to make it to the competition on Saturday afternoon (semifinals and finals), looking to compete with the Division 4 powerhouse Hudson. Our freshman class is looking really tough and they completely understand the team goal and expectations. Everyone is working hard and looking forward to competing the first week in December,” points out C-S coach Mike Reitz, entering his second year as head coach at C-S after five years as a varsity assistant and seven years as a youth coach.
Four Division 4 Individual State Finals qualifiers from C-S and two Individiaul State Finals qualifiers from Martin return to the lineup.
From the Climax-Scotts side, five starters, including four individual state medal winners return.
Senior Logan Gilbert (120/126) was a state champion last year at 106 pounds, is a two time state champion and three-time All-State medalist. He completed the season with a 52-3 record. Senior Sam Bleeker (215/285) is a returning state qualifier at 215 pounds. Senior Cole Reitz (132), finished fourth at the individual state finals last year at 120 pounds and finished the season with a 39-12 record. Senior Jackson Bagwell (157) is a two-time individual state finals qualifier, finishing eighth for a medal last year at 144 pounds. He finished the season with a 52-13 record. Junior Malcolm Smith (190/215) is the other returning starter who also enjoyed a strong season last year.
On the Martin side of the co-op, junior Haylen Buell and senior Jayce Ritchie are returning starters. Buell, a two-time state qualifier, was a state champion at 132 pounds last season when he finished the season 42-4. Ritchie is a two-time individual state finals qualifier, finishing 6th the last two years including last year at the 126 pound weight class when he finished the season with a 31-7 record.
“We also have a strong freshman class and some returning underclassmen hoping to break into the lineup,” observed Reitz.
Climax-Scotts Wrestling Team
Head Coach: Mike Reitz, 2nd year head coach, 5 years varsity assistant, 7 years as a youth coach.
Assistant coaches: Mike Porlier, Andy Gilbert , John Dudley, Paul Bowers
Last Year: 26-6, advanced to the Team State Final 8. Lost in quarterfinals
The C-S roster:
Sam Bleeker (senior), Logan Gilbert (senior), Jack Bagwell (senior), Malcom Smith (junior), Kingston Willis (freshman), Aiden Dodson (freshman), Johnathan Collver (junior), Ethan Seage (sophomore), Cole Birkam (sophomore), Brice Birkam (freshman), Xander Kasdorf (sophomore),
Cooper Dinse (sophomore), Rosendo Garcia-Delgado (senior), Dayln Bogard (freshman), Dean Parks (junior), Easton VanMiddlesworth (freshman), Brayan Simbron (senior), Gixxer Blair (freshman), Kaden Godbee (sophomore), Nate Arnett (junior), Cole Reitz (senior), Jaques Porlier (freshman)
2024-2025 C-S-M Wrestling Schedule
12/4 SAC Dual Meet DH At Gobles 6 p.m.
12/7 East Jackson Tourn. Away TBD
12/7 Grappler Gold Tourn. At Lowell TBD
12/14 Gull Lake Tourn. 9:30 a.m.
12/18 SAC Dual Meet DH Home 6 p.m.
12/21 Clipper Classic Tourn. At Martin 9 a.m.
12/27 Jim Wade Family Inv. Home 9 a.m.
1/4 Allendale Tourn. 9:30 a.m.
1/8 SAC Dual Meet DH At South Haven, 6 p.m.
1/15 SAC Dual Meet DH at Martin 6 p.m.
1/18 Hudson Super 16 9 a.m.
1/22 SAC Dual meet DH at Coloma 6 p.m.
1/25 Leslie Tourn. 9 a.m.
1/29 SAC Dual Meet DH at Fennville 6 p.m.
2/1 SAC Championships at Coloma 10 a.m.
2/5 Team Districts TBD 6 p.m.
2/8 Ind. Districts TBD
Head Coach: Mike Reitz, 2nd year head coach, 5 years varsity assistant, 7 years as a youth coach.
Assistant coaches: Mike Porlier, Andy Gilbert , John Dudley, Paul Bowers
Last Year: 26-6, advanced to the Team State Final 8. Lost in quarterfinals
The C-S roster:
Sam Bleeker (senior), Logan Gilbert (senior), Jack Bagwell (senior), Malcom Smith (junior), Kingston Willis (freshman), Aiden Dodson (freshman), Johnathan Collver (junior), Ethan Seage (sophomore), Cole Birkam (sophomore), Brice Birkam (freshman), Xander Kasdorf (sophomore),
Cooper Dinse (sophomore), Rosendo Garcia-Delgado (senior), Dayln Bogard (freshman), Dean Parks (junior), Easton VanMiddlesworth (freshman), Brayan Simbron (senior), Gixxer Blair (freshman), Kaden Godbee (sophomore), Nate Arnett (junior), Cole Reitz (senior), Jaques Porlier (freshman)
2024-2025 C-S-M Wrestling Schedule
12/4 SAC Dual Meet DH At Gobles 6 p.m.
12/7 East Jackson Tourn. Away TBD
12/7 Grappler Gold Tourn. At Lowell TBD
12/14 Gull Lake Tourn. 9:30 a.m.
12/18 SAC Dual Meet DH Home 6 p.m.
12/21 Clipper Classic Tourn. At Martin 9 a.m.
12/27 Jim Wade Family Inv. Home 9 a.m.
1/4 Allendale Tourn. 9:30 a.m.
1/8 SAC Dual Meet DH At South Haven, 6 p.m.
1/15 SAC Dual Meet DH at Martin 6 p.m.
1/18 Hudson Super 16 9 a.m.
1/22 SAC Dual meet DH at Coloma 6 p.m.
1/25 Leslie Tourn. 9 a.m.
1/29 SAC Dual Meet DH at Fennville 6 p.m.
2/1 SAC Championships at Coloma 10 a.m.
2/5 Team Districts TBD 6 p.m.
2/8 Ind. Districts TBD
