Local Sports Journal
SANBORN, N.Y. – The nationally ranked Muskegon Community College mens wrestling team looked pretty good Saturday against some much bigger opponents – including Div. 1 teams Penn State University and the University of Buffalo, and Div. II Mercyhurst College, placing four wrestlers in the Top 4 of their respective weight classes at Saturday’s Niagara Thunderwolves Open in Sanborn, NY, including one grappler who won his weight.
Freshman Greenville High School grad Luckas Gilmore went a perfect 4-0 on the day, claiming the 165-pound title, nabbing wins over U of Buffalo’s Ryan Therrian in the semifinals and over three-time New York State Champion and 10th-ranked 165-pound wrestler Chris Nevinger of Niagara County Community College in the finals.
“Lukas was great all day,” said MCC head coach Mark Brunger. “He is an extremely smart kid and just might be the hardest working wrestler in a room of extremely hard working wrestlers. He is a great pleasure to coach.”
Three other local products also medaled for the Jayhawks.
MCC’s Devane Dodgens (Chippewa Hills), whose only loss of the day came from a Div. 2 All-American Mercyhurst wrestler, finished third at 125 pounds, as did Mason Courtright (Shelby) at 184 pounds, while Joe Sika (Whitehall) was fourth at 174 pounds.
The Jayhawks return to action next weekend at Triton College in River Grove, IL.