BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LcoalSportsFans
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MT. PLEASANT — Hayden Bastian thought he had let his Richmond teammates down.
Boy, was he mistaken.
As it turns out, his last-ditch effort more than saved the day and it brought a championship back to town.
Bastian recorded a takedown of Dundee’s McCallister Mcavoy with 28 seconds left in period three of the 130-pound and he eventually recorded a 4-3 decision in the final match of the day of the MHSAA Division 3 Team Wrestling State Finals.
The result left the Division 3 state finals at Central Michigan University’s McGuirk Arena tied at 28-28. It also allowed the Blue Devils to win their eight state title as Richmond captured the crown on the rare eighth criteria.
“I fought back but I thought I’d let my teammates down. We needed a major (decision) to give us the extra point,” said Bastian. “With the (tie-breaker), I didn’t think we won.”
Bastian’s heroics gave top-ranked Richmond (30-2) its eighth overall state title. The Blue Devils also own five state runner-up trophies dating back to 1996.
“I thought we were going to come up short and finish second,” said Bastian. “Our ultimate goal was to bring back the state championship to Richmond.”
Both teams recorded seven wins on the day. Dundee’s 125-pounder Christian Killion edged Alec Ziza of Richmond 1-0 to put the Vikings (20-5) up 28-25 with one weight class to go.
“We just needed to hold it another 30 seconds and we would have won,” sighed Dundee coach Tim Roberts, whose team competed in its fifth straight title match and 12th overall. “That’s the way it goes. We knew once it had gone to the table (for the ruling) that (Richmond) won. It’s a tough way to lose. But it happens. Every point really does count.”
Richmond previously won titles in 2000, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015 — and in the 2015, 2012 and 2010 championships coming in Dundee’s expense.
“We have a great rivalry with them. I never thought it would go down to that many (criteria),” said Richmond coach Brandon Day. “I can’t remember a match going that deep right now (into the tie-breaking criteria). It’s rare. What a way to win it all.”
Richmond (30-2) won four of the final six weight classes as part of its late-night rally. Tyler Marino (285, decision), Austin Kilburn (103, pin), and Roy Costello (112, decision) aided the Blue Devils’ late rally.