By BUTCH HARMON & JEFF CHANEY
A week after winning a team state championship, the Lowell Red Arrow wrestlers stormed The Palace of Auburn Hills and flexed their muscles again.
A total of nine Lowell wrestlers placed in the Division 2 individual state tournament, including three state champions.
Lowell’s state championship parade was led by a pair of sophomores. Lucas Hall capped a perfect season by pinning Bryan LaVearn of Brandon in 2:19 to win the 112-pound state title. “To win a state title and a team title is amazing,” said Hall. “We have nine that placed and four in the finals; that’s awesome.”
Hall finished the year with a 37-0 record.
Sophomore Max Dean also came away with a state championship. He outlasted sophomore Devon Pingel of North Branch 14-8 in a grueling match to win the 171-pound state title. Like Hall, Dean was most pleased with the individual state title going hand in hand with a team state championship. “It can’t get any better than this,” he said. “To go two for two this year, that’s an incredible feeling.”
Dean wrapped up his season with a 34-2 record.
Junior Josh Colegrove claimed the third individual state title for the Red Arrows. Colegrove pinned Jacob Alarie of Bay City Western in 1:50 to win the 215-pound title. “This feels awesome; all my hard work to get back is paying off,” he said.
Colegrove ended the season with a 35-1 overall record.
With all three champions returning next year, the Red Arrows will again be aiming for a big season.
The Red Arrows had a fourth wrestler compete in a championship match, as senior Garrett Stehley placed second at 189 pounds. Stehley dropped a 5-2 decision to St. Johns junior Angus Arthur. Stehley finished the season with a 31-2 record.
A pair of Lowell wrestlers placed third, senior Bailey Jack at 130 pounds and junior Jordan Hall at 135 pounds. Senior Derek Krajewski finished fourth at 125 pounds, while sophomore Zeth Dean was fifth at 119 pounds, and senior Kanon Dean was fifth at 160 pounds.