HART – Nine grapplers from Hart’s wrestling team were in contention Saturday, Feb. 15 as the Pirates tried to punch their tickets to Ford Field in Detroit.
There weren’t many anxious moments in Hart’s home gym, as all nine regional wrestlers placed in the top four and advanced to the individual state finals.
Alex Hicks, Haegan Hansen, Adrian Lara, Jordan Thies, Kole Thomas and Ty Thomas all opted to leave any drama at the door, winning their first two matches and taking the quickest route to the state finals. For Michael Chavira, Halen Boos and Logan Jorissen, the trip was a bit more difficult.
All three – Chavira (113-pounds), Boos (132-lbs.) and Jorissen (144-lbs.) – lost their initial matches, pushing them into the consolation bracket. Luckily, none found themselves on the wrong end of elimination, earning them a spot in the third place matches for their weight classes.
Chavira lost his first patch by 10-5 decision, but bounced back with a pin, before winning by 4-0 decision. Chavira dropped the third place match by pin, and now owns a 24-11 record this season.
Boos was pinned in his first bout of the day, but dominated his first consolation match with a win by technical fall. Boos proceeded to win by 9-2 decision to earn a state qualification, but fell by pin in his third place match to leave his season record at 33-13.
Jorissen struggled early, getting sent to the consolation bracket after falling by pin in 22 seconds. Jorissen (40-17) then won by technical fall and 7-3 decision, ending his day with a loss by pin in the third place match.
Hansen, Hicks, Thies and Ty Thomas all won their first two matches by pins. Hicks (52-2) and Ty Thomas (44-5) then earned pins in their first place matches, earning individual regional titles. Hansen (43-12) fell in his first place match by pin.
Kole Thomas (45-8) won by pin and 14-1 major decision to get into the first place match, winning that one by 2-0 decision.
Lara (44-8) won by pin and technical fall, but couldn’t get the best of Reed City’s Wyatt Spalo – who he’s matched up with and lost to, three times this postseason – in the finals, falling by pin. Thies (38-10) won twice by pin to move to the finals, but ultimately took second after losing by technical fall.
Topping off Saturday’s winners, Hart Head Coach Rocky Smith was named the Michigan Wrestling Association Regional Coach of the Year.
All nine of Hart’s state qualifiers will be back in action this coming weekend for the team’s state quarterfinals. The No. 5 seeded Pirates will take on No. 4 Allegan at The Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo Friday, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m.
Individual state finals will take place Friday, Feb. 28 at Ford Field in Detroit.
