Central Montcalm senior Cody Veltkamp has been having a productive senior season so far for the Green Hornet wrestling team. He’s wrestling at 119 pounds and 125 pounds.
Coach Dan VanderVlucht noted that Veltkamp has won the St. Louis Invitational three straight years.
This year, Veltkamp has a 24-4 record. “He’s having an outstanding season right now,” VanderVlucht said.
Veltkamp has advanced to the blood round at state finals for a shot at seventh or eighth place but lost by a point in his bid.
“I think he can place top five,” VanderVlucht said. “Any given day, he can be the No. 1 kid there. Cody’s stronger parts are his shots and when he’s on top.”
Big Rapids is getting strong wrestling seasons out of seniors Nathan Weckesser and Alim Muhammed.
Weckesser is 32-2 at 130 pounds while Muhammed is 23-1 at 145.
“They’re great work partners for each other,” said coach Dan Sleeper. “They’re looking for the best guy in the room, and they’re always looking at each other. They’re best guys in the room. They just go at it. Every day is a brawl. It’s nonstop action. It’s paying off for them.
“They’re good listeners. They do what the coaches ask.”
Sleeper is confident that his two wrestlers can make a long run at state.
“You have to stay healthy and keep working hard,” Sleeper said. “You have to stay consistent.”
Greenville has two outstanding wrestlers in Alec Ward and Jake Hopkins.
Ward is 30-2 with a career record of 166-37. He’s a senior at 130 pounds who is focusing on having a successful postseason.
“He’s good in all areas of wrestling,” said coach Paul Johnson. “He’s good on his feet, good at escaping, getting to his feet, and riding his opponent. He has good stamina.
“He aspires to be a state champ. He’s never made it to the finals. I’m sure he’d like to make it to the finals.”
Hopkins, a senior 152-pounder, is 25-5 this season and 88-26 for his career. He was a district champion last season, but he broke his ankle going into regionals and will look to place at state this year.
“Those are reachable goals for him,” Johnson said. “He has real good balance. He’s a good athlete and that serves him well on mat.”