Pins In Upper Weight Classes Lead Braves To Win

ESCANABA---The Gladstone Braves wrestling team continued to roll toward the post-season with a 41-19 dual meet victory over the Escanaba Eskymos Thursday night in Escanaba. The Braves got four straight pins in the upper weight classes to turn a 14-11 lead into a 38-11 advantage. Gladstone won both meets from Escanaba this season.

Gladstone's onslaught began at 171 pounds when Jake Cronick pinned Brendon Schuenke in 3:51. Next, at 189 pounds, Jack Cronick needed just 37 seconds to pin Escanaba rookie Sean Bissell. At 215 pounds, Braves junior Cody Malanowski pinned Eskymo freshman Mo Hoque in 1:43.

And then Braves heavyweight Tom Bailey pinned Escanaba's Bill Soper in 2:37.

Esky's Sergei LaMarche and Gladstone's Jack Simison battle. (Sheila Olsen photo)

The Eskymos had better success at the lower weight classes, as three of their U.P. champions came through with victories.

In a marquee match-up, Escanaba's Travis Heller beat Gladstone's Brandon Gagon, 12-4 (pictured at top). Both boys won U.P. titles two weeks ago in Marquette, in different weight classes.

Eskymo freshman Kaleb Rahoi kept his strong season going with a 15-2 major victory over Keenan Barron at 145 pounds. And Escanaba's Sergei LaMarche defeated Gladstone's Jack Simison on a pin at the 4:59 mark in a battle of 103-pound freshmen.

Gladstone's Kadish boys were at it again. Josh Kadish beat Escanaba's Alec Slaga, 4-2, in a 152-pound match. And at 140 pounds, Jeremy Kadish won a 5-0 decision over Teddy Peippo. And the Braves' other brother duo, the Cronicks, both pinned their opponents.

Other Gladstone winners included Sam Taylor (135 pounds), Bobby Beauchamp (130 pounds), and James Bruce (112 pounds). Escanaba's Nick King won at 119 pounds.

MARQUETTE, NORWAY WIN TRIANGULARS---The Marquette Redmen won two matches at a triangular meet in Kingsford Thursday night. Marquette beat Kingsford, 51-18, and Negaunee, 49-12. And at a triangular in Ishpeming, Norway beat the host Hematites, 56-22, and then Norway topped Iron Mountain, 54-21.

Date	Time	Opponent	Score	Record

12/6	6:00 PM	at Marquette Redmen	55 - 13 (W)

12/6	7:00 PM	at Negaunee Miners	75 - 6 (W)

12/13	6:30 PM	Escanaba Eskymos	43 - 21 (W)

1/3	6:00 PM	Norway Knights	69 - 6 (W)

1/3	7:00 PM	Kingsford Flivvers	77 - 0 (W)

1/31	7:00 PM	at Escanaba Eskymos	41 - 19 (W)

2/2	10:00 AM	at Escanaba Eskymos	203 - 223 (L)

2/13	7:00 PM	Grayling Vikings	44 - 25 (W)