RIVALRY THRILLER: Gladstone Wrestlers Get Win

ESCANABA---The Gladstone Braves and Escanaba Eskymos went down to the wire in a wrestling dual meet Wednesday night before Gladstone picked up a 38-33 upset win on a pin by Peter Noblet in the evening's final match.

The early part of the match was dominated by the Braves, as heavyweight Brett Boudreau pinned Nick Carlson just 55 seconds into the match. The match then went to the smallest kids, and Gladstone's Eli Terrien pinned Reid Pruitt in 1:05 to make it 12-0.

The Eskymos forfeited the 112-pound match.

Then at 119, Gladstone's Michael Brazzeau had an entertaining match with Tyler DeGrand before winning on a tech fall. The next match was also entertaining as the Braves' 125-pounder Lane Matzke held off Adam Reimer, 8-6, to earn the three points.

With Gladstone in a 26-0 lead, the Eskymos were counting on the middle weights to come through with enough points to get them back into the match. That started with U.P. champion Collin Arnt at 130 pounds.

Arnt picked up a comfortable 8-1 win over Hunter Solis to put the Eskymos on the board, although he was upset that he didn't get the pin and six points.

Escanaba picked up its first pin at 135 when Brock Viau beat Brennon Detiege in 1:13.

The Braves then forfeited the 140 weight class to Tyler Lawson, so the Eskymos were within 26-15 on the scoreboard. Escanaba got even closer when four-time U.P. champion Hunter Larson pinned Andrew Sargent in the second period.

The 152-pound match featured a couple of U.P. champions as Gladstone's Cole Hansen battled Escanaba's Brodey Bevins. Hansen got the pin at the 2:41 mark to give the Braves a 32-21 lead heading into the higher weight classes.

The 160-pound match between Eskymo senior Dayton Miron and Gladstone's Cole Potier appeared to end on a pin when Miron slammed Potier to the mat in the second period, and pinned him seconds later.

But after some discussion, Miron was penalized for an illegal slam, and the match continued. Miron eventually won on points, but Escanaba got only three team points as opposed to six. That would loom large.

Escanaba trailed, 32-24, heading into the 171 pound match, and U.P. champion Khaler Geyer did his job, getting a pin just 35 seconds into his encounter with Gladstone's Henry Hanson. Those six points made it a 32-30 score.

That set up the 189-pound match, which Escanaba had to win, and one that turned out to be the longest and most-lively of the evening.

Escanaba's Scott Pendergraft and Gladstone's Blake Servant battled to a 2-2 tie after the three periods, sending the match into overtime. Pendergraft was able to get the takedown in overtime to get the three points. That gave Escanaba a 33-32 lead.

So the match came down to one match, at 215 pounds, between Gladstone's Noblet and Escanaba's Jarret Olsen. Needing to win only on points, Noblet got five points in the first period to take control of the match.

But he finished it off with a pin 31 seconds into the second period, setting off a wild Gladstone celebration.

Click the thumbnails in the ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS box above to see photos and video highlights. Also click the AUDIO buttons to hear interviews with Noblet, and with Escanaba Coach Jeff Wright.