The Reeths-Puffer wrestling team had to come from way behind to secure an exciting 36-33 victory over Byron Center on Wednesday in a key O-K Green conference match.
Byron Center led 33-15 with four matches remaining, putting serious pressure on the Rockets.
But the remaining R-P wrestlers rose to the challenge. Sage Secrest won his match 5-4, then Devin Welch, Max Knowlton and Travis Henderson each pinned their opponents, giving R-P the points it needed to secure the tight victory.
R-P's Aiden Neal, who won both of his matches by pin.
"We started off cold and dug ourselves a hole early in the match, giving up too many bonus points," said R-P Coach Brad Cowles. "Byron Center made some adjustments individually since the last time we wrestled them and won some tough matches we weren't expecting. Devin Welch, Max Knowlton and Travis Henderson stepped up huge for our team."
The Rockets also wrestled West Ottawa in a non-conference match and won 57-18.
R-P is now 12-3 overall and 2-0 in the O-K Green conference standings.
Knowlton (106 pounds), Henderson (113), Welch (285) Ian Cook (144) and Aiden Neal (165) all posted 2-0 records while beating their opponents from both Byron Center and West Ottawa.
Neal won both of his matches by pin.