Last year, Reeths-Puffer wrestling standout Ian Cook had to fight his way to a berth in the state finals, enduring a loss and several close calls in regionals.
Cook had no such issues this year.
The senior improved his perfect season record to 48-0 by sweeping to three victories and a championship on Saturday at the Division 1 individual regional tournament at Portage Northern High School.
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Ian Cook
Cook and two other Rockets - Max Knowlton and Sage Secrest - qualified to compete in the Feb. 28-March 1 MHSAA state wrestling finals at Ford Field in Detroit.
Cook plowed through his bracket in the 144-pound weight class, pinning Kalamazoo Central's Barra Al-Gharib in 1:58 and Muskegon's Ke'Yaun Bradford in 3:33, before downing Brighton's Xander Courneya 10-2 in the championship match.
Cook is now a four-time state qualifier. As a regional champion, he will go in as a high seed in his weight class in the state finals.
Max Knowlton
Knowlton and Secrest both went 2-2 on the day and finished fourth in their weight classes. The top four wrestlers in each weight class qualified for state.
Knowlton (106 pounds) won his first match, lost his second, beat Northview's Benjamin Jackson 5-3 in the consolation semifinal round, then lost the third place match.
Secrest (215) followed a similar path, winning his first round match, losing his second, beating Hudsonville's John Schepers 4-1 in the consolation semifinals, then losing the third place match.
R-P's Travis Henderson, Tanner Cowles and Devin Welch also competed after qualifying for regionals, but did not advance to state.
Sage Secrest 