Oh! ‘Lo’well: Holly no match for No. 2 Red Arrows
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
BATTLE CREEK — Holly’s first back-to-back appearance in the team wrestling state tournament was an abrupt one.
Holly's Shawn Thomas was just one three Bronchos to win a match in Friday's state quarterfinals loss to Lowell. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
The Bronchos, who were given the No. 7 seed, were simply no match for second-seeded and second-ranked Lowell, falling prey in quick fashion, 54-15, in a Division 2 state quarterfinal at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
Lowell (25-1) which has been ranked second all season and is one of three Michigan schools ranked in the top 50 nationally, defeated Holly in just over an hour.
This team has grown a lot. They have improved a lot,” said Lowell coach David Dean. “We have a heckuva team and these guys work very hard to get here every year. Being here is the ultimate test.”
The Red Arrows, who have claimed three state titles with four state runner-up trophies, all since 1999, won eight of the first nine matches and will face Allegan at 11:45 p.m. Saturday in the state semifinals.
It marks the school’s 12th overall Final Four.
“There is some expectation,” said Dean. “With the state titles and (four runners-up), there is the expectation for us to do well.
“We just take it one (match) at a time,” continued Dean. “Holly was a tough opponent. They definitely had some experienced kids. But we just wanted to focus on that first match and then worry about tomorrow.”
Lowell picked up seven total wins by pin and never trailed, collecting wins in 11 of the 14 weights classes. Kanon Dean (152), Andrew Morse (160), Gabe Dean (189), Luke Stephens (285), Derek Krajewski (103), Jordan Hall (119) and Angus Arthur (145) all picked up wins by pin for Lowell.
Holly still enjoyed one of its best seasons in school history, which ended with a fine 29-6 record, the second highest win total in school history.
The Bronchos were ranked sixth entering the postseason, won back-to-back Flint Metro League championships for the first time, captured their third straight district title, the first time that has ever happened before in program history, and captured a second straight regional title — another first.
“We knew that is was going to be really hard to beat them,” said Holly coach Don Pluta, who has an outstanding 531-236 record in 29 years of service. “What we wanted to do is go out there every match and battle them. Some of our guys did that, but some were just overmatched and it really didn’t matter.
“We wanted to go out swinging,” continued Pluta. “That’s what we felt we had to do. We knew we were up against the wall with the firepower they had.”
It marked the third time in eight seasons that Holly made it to Battle Creek, with each run ending in the state quarterfinals. The Bronchos lost to last year’s state champ, St. Johns, in the quarterfinals last season, while in 2005, Holly was knocked out by Utica Ford, that time coming in Division 1.
“This year we were more prepared. Last year we made some mistakes in terms of preparation,” said Pluta. “We corrected them this year, but again, maybe wrestling someone else would have panned out better for us.”
Holly’s sole wins came from Shawn Scott (215), Mason Cleaver (125) and Anthony Gonzales (130). Cleaver gained the Bronchos’ sole pin on the night.
DIVISION 2 STATE QUARTERFINALS
LOWELL 54, HOLLY 15
(At Kellogg Arena, Battle Creek)
152: Kanon Dean (L) p. Jake Harless 1:21; 160: Andrew Morse (L) p. Andrew Scott 1:35; 171: Jake Stehley (L) d. Blake Cuthbert 10-5; 189: Gabe Dean (L) p. Jose Martinez 0:56; 215: Shawn Scott (H) d. Josh Colegrove 12-5; 285: Luke Stephens (L) p. Joel Schurmann 1:26; 103: Derek Krajewski (L) p. Jacob Palleson 1:35; 112: Bailey Jack (L) by void; 119: Jordan Hall (L) p. Tyler Gibson 1:31; 125: Mason Cleaver (HO p. Scott Van Oosten 1:17; 130: Anthony Gonzales (H) d. Nate Lemmix 8-4; 135: Jesse Torres (H) d. Ryan Walters 5-1 (2OT); 140: Gabe Morse (L) Zach Jones 15-8; 145: Angus Arthur (L) p. Kyle Pepper 5:34.
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