MUSKEGON TWP. - Most prep wrestlers gradually move up in weight class as they physically grow and advance through high school.
Reeths-Puffer senior heavyweight Nathan Stafford did not have that benefit, because he’s always been a big guy competing in the highest weights throughout his four-year varsity career.
That means he went up against a lot of older opponents, and sometimes much bulkier guys, but still managed to find success.
R-P's Nathan Stafford, who reached 100 wins on Wednesday.
Stafford, now in the final weeks of his career, reached a major milestone on Wednesday night when he defeated Wyoming’s Darius Scott 6-4 to gain his 100th career victory.
“The weight difference (in the heavyweight division) can be so big,” said R-P Coach Jared Fleming. “You can be 225 pounds and go up against a 285-pounder. The body styles can be so different, too. You might go up against a 6-foot-4 kid who is going to play college football or a 5-foot-9 kid built like an ox.
“It’s hard to come in as a heavyweight, and the fact that Nathan has been so consistent for four years has just been impressive. We’re all very happy for him.”
Stafford’s milestone victory was the highlight of a very successful night for the R-P wrestling team.
R-P's Sage Secrest works on taking down an opponent. Photo/Joe Lane
First the Rockets pulled off a rare feat by shutting out an opponent. They beat Wyoming by an overwhelming 79-0 score and gained an important conference victory in the process.
They finished the evening by pulling out a 36-32 victory over a good Belding squad in non-conference action.
The victory over Wyoming, while being a blowout, was by far the most important, because it kept the Rockets tied on top of the O-K Green standings with Holland and Zeeland East, heading into Saturday’s conference tournament, where the championship will be decided.
Last year the Rockets won the conference title at the tournament, and they are hoping to do the same on Saturday.
R-P's Nathan Reeves tries to topple his opponent. Photo/Joe Lane
The Rockets were dominant, with Mason Goodno (120), Hunter Eek (138), Andrew Corradin (150), Lyric Stewart (157), Owen Schab (165) and Arin Maynard (106) all winning with pins.
Ian Cook and Bryce Muskovin won their matches by technical fall and Stafford gained his narrow victory to pick up his 100th win.
“Without that being a win, Saturday means less,” Fleming said about beating Wyoming. “Every match and every dual is important. The guys know that. You can’t lose that focus and the guys didn’t tonight.”
Fleming said he can’t recall ever coaching in a dual match where the final score was a shutout. Usually all teams manage to scrape together at least a few points, but R-P held Wyoming to a painful zero on the scoreboard.
R-P's Lyric Stewart gets ready for the action to begin. Photo/Joe Lane
“I think it’s rare,” said Fleming, who added that Wyoming only forfeited in 4 of 14 weight classes. “It was kind of surprising. No matches were even close. We won everything by pin or tech fall. It was impressive.”
Reeths-Puffer ran into a much more competitive opponent in Belding, but still managed to pull out the four-point victory.
All of their individual wins were crucial to secure the victory. Several Rockets who lost their matches also contributed by avoiding pins, which give opponents more team points.
Jake Rozycki (126) and Corradin won with pins while Cook and Eek pulled out victories via decision. The Rockets also benefitted from Belding forfeits in several weight classes.
R-P's Hunter Eek prepares to take down his opponent. Photo/Joe Lane
Perhaps the most impressive win came from Cook, who defeated Belding’s Ryan Woods 7-2. Both were state finals qualifiers last year.
“That match was really big for me,” said Cook, who finished sixth in the state in his weight class last year. “I knew all day it was going to be a tough match. He and I are good friends and I know he’s tough. We practice together sometimes. But getting the win felt really good and I thought I wrestled really well.”
Cook said the team's victory over Belding was exactly what the Rockets needed heading into the conference tournament, followed by districts.
“Beating someone like Belding is never easy,” he said. “Beating them and getting that win boosts our confidence. We got guys who have gotten better all year and right now we’re feeling really good going into the weekend.”
