Whitehall’s Jenkins repeats as wrestling champion while Quinn from MCC and Roberson from Hesperia capture state titles

LocalSportsJournal.com

DETROIT — Nothing like facing the biggest challenge in the biggest match of the year in the MHSAA individual state wrestling finals at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday.

Which is what Mason County Central senior Andrew Quinn did.

Quinn, who eclipsed 100 wins for his prep career earlier this season, advanced to the final at 285 pounds in Division 4 where he found himself going against defending state champion New Lothrup senior Isiah Pasik, who hadn’t lost a match in two seasons.

But that didn’t overwhelm Quinn, who made a quick move to go from a reversal to a pin in the second period.

It was Quinn’s first state title. He finished the season with a 51-1 record. Pasik wound up 46-1 this year.

Hesperia senior River Roberson found himself engaged in a see-saw battle with Hudson senior Payton Rogers at 135 pounds in Division 4 and prevailed for a 10-7 decision to capture the state title.

Roberson almost didn’t survive the match, but managed to escape a nearfall early in the match. But he grinded it out, regained control and he never relinquished it again.

Whitehall senior Ira Jenkins dominated the competition in the 285-pound weight class in the Division 2 individual state finals, climaxing with a pin in 38 seconds over Ferndale senior Joshua Cook for the title.

Jenkins pinned all of his opponents, the last three in the first minute, en route to his second consecutive individual title. Jenkins pinned his way through the field at 285 a year ago as well.

Mason Cantu of Hart ended his season with a runnerup finish at 145 pounds in the Division 3 individual state finals with an 11-5 loss to state champion Aiden Davis of Dundee.

Cantu, a senior, wound up with a 48-2 record. Davis, a junior, went 43-0 this season.

Fremont sophomore Tee Ward reached the state championship match where he lost by a 7-3 decision to St. Joseph senior Nolan Wertanen at 119 pounds. Ward finished 49-3 while Wertanen was undefeated at 53-0.