The Clare wrestling team was fifth overall behind Shelby, Tri County, Chippewa Hills and Bullock Creek Saturday at the Joe Loren Memorial Invitational at Chippewa Hills High School.
“With 19 teams scheduled for attendance, this tournament was a glimpse into the individual district for Division 3,” said Clare coach Kyle McKay.
Clare entered 13 wrestlers on the day, with double entries at 152, 160, 171 and 189. Eight out of the 13 entrees ended up walking out with a medal at the end of the day.
Zach Betzer (152) went 3-2 on the day and finished in sixth place. Logan Emery (160) took first and Steven Bentley took eighth place. Brandon Ayris (171) lost a nail biter in the finals, 8-6, and finished with a second-place medal on the day. Eric Litke (171) took fifth, his only loss coming to his teammate Ayris in the first round. Freshmen Hart Smalley (189) come in seventh place after going 3-2. Brenden Hensley (215) finished in third, and Bob Green also finished in third place at 285, both going 2-1 on the day.
The Pioneers finished in fifth place overall behind Shelby, Tri-County, Chippewa Hills and Bullock Creek.
“Without entering wrestlers at 103, 112, 125, 135 and 140, this was a pretty remarkable feat for this wrestling team to pull off,” McKay said. “We wrestled some really tough matches and have a great deal of insight as to what we need to improve on in the upcoming year.”
The Pioneers are at St. Louis on Saturday.