Wrestling roundup: SL secures outright title;

Bucs can't contend in O-K Red

Mon, Feb 8, 2010    to del.icio.us

Five Lakers' wrestlers captured individual Lakes Eight Conference championships on Saturday, helping the Lakers wrap up the outright league title at Saturday's league tournament.

Harry Kriger dropped down from 125 to 119, filling in for the injured Tyler Nietering, and he crushed the competition, pinning his first two opponents in 120 seconds combined, then pinning Cory Prince from Fremont in just under 3 minutes.

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Shaw Creeden went 3-0 at 145 pounds, pinning all three of his opponents, while 160-pounder Jack Babcock also went 3-0, including pins over Ludington and Orchard View before a 13-6 win over Grant in the finals.

Andrew Holmes started with a bye at 215 pounds, then won his next two matches with pins. At heavyweight, Brad Melefsky pinned his first two opponents in 18 and 32 seconds, respectively, before pinning Fruitport's Dexter Kilgore in 2:27 to finish with a perfect 3-0 mark.

The Lakers finished with 197 points at the event, with Fruitport taking second with 125.5 points. Grant, Fremont, Orchard View, Tri-County, Newaygo and Ludington rounded out the final league standings.

Fruitport had four wrestlers win in the consolation finals, including Brandon Brown (112 pounds); Andrew Tran (135); David Juarez (140); and Roy Scarbrough (215).

The Lakers travel to Reeths-Puffer on Wednesday for the Division 2 team districts against Coopersville. The winner will take on either Fruitport or the host Rockets in the district title match later in the evening.

BUCS PLACE 7TH

Rockford, ranked No. 4 in the latest Division 1 state poll, edged 10th-ranked Hudsonville to win Saturday's O-K Red Conference tournament as the Rams earned 193 points to the Eagles' 164.

East Kentwood took third, followed by Grandville, Jenison, Grand Haven and Muskegon.

The Buccaneers had a trio of wrestlers earn runner-up finishes at their respective weight classes.

Colin Bertucci at 140 pounds, Jerry Westerman at 189 and Dylan Radde at 215 each finished second while Josh Juchartz was third at 189.