Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
The DeWitt senior 112-pounder hopes to make it one more step this year.
Two years ago as a sophomore for the DeWitt wrestling team, McFarland advanced to regionals of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 individual state wrestling tournament.
But McFarland’s dream of qualifying for the state tournament ended one match away in the regional ‘Blood Round’ — a round where the winner advances to state, and the loser sees his or her season end.
McFarland qualified for regioinals again Saturday at the district at Hamilton High School. She placed third in her weight class, and now will wrestler at the Middleville regional Saturday.
“I’ve worked real hard for this, and I don’t want to stop now,” McFarland siad. “I knew I had to come out today and wrestle with confidence. And the loss I had today showed me what I’m going to need to do next week if I want to make it to state.”
McFarland, who was the tolp seed, won her first match by technical fall, but in the semifnals lost to Hamilton’s Logan Welcher by a 5-2 decision. She came back to win two more matches, including a 7-0 win over Hastings’ Zach Wilcox in the consolation finals to place third.
Her record heading into regionals is 40-8.
She hops to pick up two more wins and qualify for state and join an exclusive club of girl wrestlers advancing to state like Goodrich’s C.C. Webber and Kristi Garr.
“Two years ago I kind of knew I wasn’t going to make it to state, and I lost 7-0 in the ‘Blood Round’,” McFarland said. “This year I definitley know I have a shot to make it to The Palace (for the finals). I’ve worked all offseason to make it to this.”
Before individual regionals the Panthers will wrestle in the team regional at Allegan High School Wednesday night and take on Hamilton in one semifnal. That may set up a rematch with Welcher.
McFarland was one of five DeWitt wrestlers to move on out of districts.The others were Alex Lantz (4th, 119 pounds), Nick Baker (2nd, 135), Mark Bozzo (3rd, 135) and Nate Knauf (1st, 189).
For Knauf, it was his second district title and improved his record. to 43-4 on the season.
Last year Knauf qualified for state, but just missed at placing in the top eight.
“I have a lot of motivation this year to get back and make it to the top of the podium,” Knauf said. “I lost in the ‘Blood Round’ last year at state, and my goal is a state championship this year.”
That could prove challenging in his weight class, a weight class that includes Lowell’s Gabe Dean and Holly’s Shawn Scott. Knauf could face Dean this week at the Middleville regional.
Lansing Waverly and Charlotte also took part in the Hamilton district. Waverly had three qualifiers: Aaron Mays (1st, 152), Thomas Houston (2nd, 160) and Cameron Lee (2nd, 215), while Charlotte also had three: Chase Challender (3rd, 171), Anthony Challender (2nd, 189) and Patrick Eldred (1st, 215).