Wrestlers have a successful week!

Manchester's varsity wrestling team placed first in the Bad Axe Hatchet Invitational last weekend. Photos courtesy of Stacy Fry.

It was a good week for the varsity wrestlers!

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, the team attended a Quad Meet in East Jackson, going 2-0 for the night against East Jackson and Hanover Horton. Great performances from all wrestlers helped the team go undefeated against Hanover and they gained a decisive win over East Jackson. Grass Lake also participated in the EJ meet, but Manchester had already faced them earlier in the season.

On Friday, despite a snow day, the wrestling team braved the roads and made the long journey to Bad Axe for the Hatchets Invitational where the Manchester Dutchmen took first place as team, earning 221.5 points total.

Coming in with first-place medals were Drew Gebhardt at 103# and Reese Fry at 112#.

Second place wrestlers included Jacob Shelby at 119#, Blake Belaire at 130#, and Charlie Depp at 215#.

Placing third were Grant Tungate, 125#; Josh Bunn , 140#; Nick Phillips 160#; and Collin McCaffrey at 171#.

Adam Pringle, wrestling at 119#, had a fourth-place finish.

In fifth place, Dutchmen Cole Bruestle at 140# and Travis Withrow at 189#, each received honors.

And a sixth place finish went to Jacob Kurgin, wrestling at 135#.

The team heads to Vandercook Lake for a conference meet on Wednesday, Jan. 17 and will participate in the Hudson Super 16 Invitational held on Saturday, Jan. 20.

Two wrestlers, Reese Fry and Drew Gebhardt, received first place individual medals at the Bad Axe tournament. They are pictured with coach Steve Vlcek.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.