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Howland wrestlers continues to dominate
By brandon judeh
BELOIT
The Howland Tigers wrestling team dominated the Division II sectionals at West Branch, placing 14 and finishing first out of 12 teams.
Overall the Tigers scored 255.50 points, 37.50 more than second place West Branch, and had three first place finishers. J.R. Perry, Gabe Stark and Freshman David Brian Whisler all walked away sectional champions in their respected weight class.
“I set a few goals for myself this year and one of them was winning sectionals,” Whisler said. “My ultimate goal is to go to state; I would be the first Freshman from Howland to do that.”
Despite battling the flu, Perry dominated his match against Field’s Jimmy Kubitza, winning by major decision 13-2.
“I feel like I can beat anybody in the state, for me it’s all about controlling my weight and my teammates being there for me,” Perry stated. “I feel pretty good heading into districts as the first seed.”
The Tigers won 19 of their 21 matches on Friday giving them a nice cushion over the rest of the competition and they only added to it on Saturday.
“We started out wrestling very well, which helped us a lot and the kids came out today and gave their hardest. I am proud of my whole team,” said Howland coach Bill Beason.
West Branch made a solid showing scoring 218 points and placing 13 total, two in first place, and had one of the most exciting matches on the night. In the final 285 pound weight class the Warriors sent Connor Sharp up against Howland’s Austin Hutchins. The two battled it out, but Sharp won by Fall bringing the crowd to their feet and ending the sectional.
Canfield finished in fifth place with 124 points and one champion in the 113 pound weight class, Korey Frost. The Cardinals placed nine total wrestlers. Poland finished 10th out of 12 teams and placed four.
It is nothing new for Howland, who has a rich wrestling tradition, to send multiple wrestlers to the district tournament.
“All the kids that won today have worked so hard and to have all of these guys going on to districts is a great thing,” said Beason. “You never know when you come to a sectional tournament, kids put added pressure on themselves, but our kids were very calm and went out there and did well, we keep getting better everyday.”
Stark, who won the 138 pound championship 16-0, says that his team expected to win, but knew it would not be handed to them.
“It feels good because all of us have been working extra hard, we came in confident, but knew it was going to be tough and that we had to earn it,” he said.