OVERTIME THRILLER! Gonzalez Earns State Title

AUBURN HILLS, Mich.---Manistique High School senior Tanner Gonazlez captured a MHSAA Division Four wrestling state championship Saturday evening, beating Johnathon Stid of Dansville, 5-4, in a heart-stopping, double-overtime, 160-pound title match at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

Gonzalez overcame a penalty point in the third period that tied the score at 3-3 and eventually sent the match into overtime.

Once in extra time, Stid got a point for an escape to take a 4-3 lead. But Gonzalez came through with a clutch reversal maneuver to take the lead.

Gonzalez becomes the first Manistique High School wrestler to win a state championship, and is just the third Upper Peninsula wrestler to win a state title.

Joe Ostman and Galloway Thurston, both of St. Ignace, were the other champions.

The match got off to a great start for Gonzalez, as he scored two points with a takedown early in the first period. Stid was able to get one point back with an escape in the first period, and then tied the match at 2-2 in the second period with another escape.

In the third period, Gonzalez scored a point on an escape, but then was assessed a penalty point, which set up two intense overtime periods.

Gonzalez completed a perfect senior season with a 49-0 record.

FIVE YOOPERS ON PODIUM---Earlier on Saturday, four other Upper Peninsula wrestlers reached the podium by finishing in the Top Eight in the state their respective weight classes. Iron Mountain's Aaron Bolo finished third in Division Three at 189 pounds, while Gwinn 189-pounder Kevin Roberts took fifth place in Division Four.

In Division Two, Escanaba freshman Hunter Larson had a rough consolation match in the morning, but rebounded later in the day to win his seventh place match.

In Division Three, Gladstone sophomore Adam Bruce won his seventh place match at 135 pounds after losing a tough one earlier in the day.

And Gladstone senior Austin Demeuse will settle for eighth place after two losses on Saturday at 171 pounds.

Saturday's consolation bracket results:

DIVISION TWO
130: Tony Williams (Stevensville) def. Hunter Larson (Escanaba), 15-0.
130: 7th Place: Hunter Larson (Escanaba) def. Robert Nowik (Armada), 11-4.

DIVISION THREE
135: Cooper Gummells (Brooklyn Columbia) def. Adam Bruce (Gladstone), 15-0.
135: 7th Place: Adam Bruce (Gladstone) def. Alex Rosas (Alma), 8-4.
171: Mitchell Ward (Belding) def. Austin Demeuse (Gladstone), 9-8.
171: 7th Place: Robert Granberry (Remus) def. Austin Demeuse (Gladstone), 7-4.
189: Aaron Bolo (Iron Mountain) def. Eric Cassidy (Beaverton), 3-1.
189: 3rd Place: Aaron Bolo (Iron Mountain) def. Rylee Schultz (Grant), 9-2.

DIVISION FOUR
189: Kevin Roberts (Gwinn) def. Mason Rife (Weberville), 2-0.
189: Chase Gibson (Bronson) pin Kevin Roberts (Gwinn) in 2:04.
189: 5th Place: Kevin Roberts (Gwinn) pin Kody Ebersole (Napoleon) in 2:03.