For local high school wrestlers, there is something special about winning an individual championship at the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association tournament, popularly known as the city tournament.
It means you’re the best in your weight class among Muskegon County wrestlers, from schools of every size.
By the time he’s done, Reeths-Puffer freshman Landon Learn is likely to earn that designation several times.
Learn’s first time came on Saturday when he won the individual title in the 113-pound division at the GMAA tournament at Ravenna High school. His accomplishment helped the Rockets finish in third place in the final team standings, ahead of nine other local squads.
GMAA champion Landon Learn
The Rockets finished with 173.5 points, behind champion Whitehall (206) and second-place Fruitport (202).
Learn was R-P’s only individual champion in the boys competition. He entered as the top seed at 113 pounds, which allowed him to advance straight to the semifinal round.
He pinned Whitehall’s Blake Wallace in the second period of the semifinals, then pinned Holton’s Kole Nichols, a state-ranked wrestler, in the first period of the championship match.
Learn has a perfect 29-0 record so far this season.
GMAA champion Sidney Shakelford
“Landon, per usual, put on a show for the crowd, staying in great position and putting away his opponents early,” said R-P head coach Brad Cowles. “I see Landon being R-P’s next four-time county champion.”
R-P’s Travis Henderson also had a very good day at the tournament, posting a 2-1 record and finishing second in the 120-pound division. He lost a very close match in the championship round, 4-3 to Mona Shores’ Mario Curiel.
The Rockets piled up team points by taking third place in seven weight divisions.
R-P’s third-place wrestlers were Andrew Corradin (175 pounds), Aiden Neal (165), Tanner Cowles (150), Hunter Eek (144), Cory Judd (132), Max Knowlton (126) and Braxton VanHohenstein (106).
GMAA runner-up Travis Henderson
All of the third-place finishers had 3-1 records on the day. Knowlton, a standout last season, was competing for the first time this year after working his way back from an injury.
R-P’s Devin Welch (215) finished in fourth place in his weight class.
“Overall the team wrestled very well but came up short,” Coach Cowles said. “We had a great first two rounds but took a hit in the semifinal round, with all but two of our guys losing. They all wrestled hard the next two rounds and most came home with a third place medal. I am very proud of how they wrestled back after the semifinal losses.”
GMAA runner-up Brooklyn Colson
In the girls competition, R-P’s Sidney Shackelford won an individual championship in the 155-pound division, posting a 2-0 record.
“Sidney wrestled with lots of fire and aggression in her two matches, winning by pin and tech fall,” Cowles said.
Brooklyn Colson posted a strong 3-1 record and finished second in the 125-pound division.