Dundee vs. Richmond.
It just seems like a natural match-up in the Division 3 wrestling state finals.
That was the case again this year, with the two teams going at it on Feb. 22 at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena. Dundee prevailed 35-26. Last year when the two teams met, Richmond prevailed 34-23. Richmond also won in 2011 over Lake Fenton 33-22 and in 2010 over Dundee 24-23.
Dundee finished runner-up to Goodrich in 2008 and 2009, also, but won it in 2007 over Richmond 29-26. Richmond faced other teams in the finals in 2000, 2002, and 2004, winning it in 2000 and 2002.
“How many times have we wrestled in the finals?” asked Dundee coach Tim Roberts, who has a 15-year record of 414-55-1. “It’s a bunch. I have a ton of respect for them. They’re such a well-coached team and a class community and program. They do such a good job.
“It’s a great rivalry. I respect them so much. It’s tough to be with them in the finals.”
Why are the two teams almost always in the finals?
“I don’t know,” Roberts replied. “I guess we’re both doing good jobs.”
He’s hoping it will continue in the future, but “[w]e’re losing a lot of seniors,” he said. “This is one of my heavier senior groups. We’ll have to do a lot of work to get back here next year.”
Blue Devils coach Brandon Day would like to see his team return to the finals again, but with better results.
“I’m proud of the kids,” he said. “We have awesome kids, awesome parents. The best fans here. It is what it is. You can’t win every time. But we’ll do whatever it takes to come back and give it another shot.”
Day gives credit to both programs. “You win all the time when you do things right all the time,” Day said. “We have two programs that do things right. You win some times when you cut corners and you cheat. We’re here every year because other teams in our division cut corners and it gets exposed out here in the semifinals. They [Dundee] don’t cut corners, and we don’t cut corners.
“We’re similar programs. Their kids are tough, our kids are tough.”
Will it continue?
“It’d better,” Day smiled. “We’re not going anywhere.”