A lot of different things have to happen for a team to win a close varsity wrestling dual match.
The Reeths-Puffer wrestling team put a lot of those pieces together on Monday in an exciting 38-30 victory over Jenison in an important O-K Green conference match.
The Rockets received 12 points, rather than the minimum of six, with pins by Hunter Eek (157 pounds) and Sage Secrest (215).
They earned five points, rather than three, when Travis Henderson (113) won his match by technical fall, 18-3.
R-P's Hunter Eek, who won his match by pin.
Other winners for R-P, earning three points apiece, were Max Knowlton (106), Cory Judd (126) and Tanner Cowles (144).
Jenison was forced to forfeit in two weight classes, handing the Rockets 12 more points.
A few losses were also valuable for Reeths-Puffer.
Devin Welch (285) lost but avoided a technical fall or pin, costing Jenison one or two potential points.
Arin Maynard (120) and Tristan Baker (138) both lost by technical fall but were not pinned, costing the Wildcats two potential points.
In the end it all added up to a big win for the Rockets, who improved to 4-0 in the O-K Green standings while Jenison dropped to 3-1.
R-P's Sage Secrest, who won his match by pin.
"The boys showed up and wrestled with grit, scoring bonus points every chance they could and keeping Jenison to limited points in some big matches," said R-P Coach Brad Cowles. "Every one of them was on the mat not only wrestling for themselves, but really stepping up and wrestling for the team."
The Rockets hope to charge ahead through the rest of the week and win their third consecutive O-K Green conference championship.
R-P will host Mona Shores on Wednesday in a big match, then will compete in Friday's conference tournament, with a chance to clinch the title.