The Reeths-Puffer wrestling team kicked off what’s expected to be a good season with a strong finish at Saturday’s Herm Wilkinson Classic at Howell High School.
The Rockets finished in fourth place in the 22-team field.
The biggest winner for R-P was Ian Cook, who posted a perfect 4-0 record and won the championship in the 144-pound division.
"From the start of the match to the end, Ian gave his opponent zero breathing room and cruised to the top of the podium in dominant fashion,” said R-P Coach Brad Cowles.
Ian Cook
Other Rockets who stood out were Sage Secrest, who finished third at 215 pounds with a 5-1 record, and Jake Rozycki, who took fifth place at 138 pounds.
Ten of the Rockets’ 14 wrestlers placed, including Travis Henderson, Blake Miller, Tanner Cowles, Hunter Eek, Bryce Muskovin, Aiden Neal and Devin Welch.
In the girls' tournament, R-P's Sidney Shakelford took fifth in her weight class.
In a separate boys varsity tournament, where R-P sent eight wrestlers, Marcus Moore and Micah Mills each finished second in their weight classes and Clay Rozycki was third.
“Overall the team wrestled very well,” Coach Cowles said. “We will be back in the wrestling room Monday preparing for a hard dual on Wednesday against Petoskey and Cedar Springs, followed by an individual tournament in Gull Lake on Saturday.”