Reeths-Puffer wrestler Devin Welch had to use all of his muscles against a heavier guy in a really important match on Wednesday.
His R-P squad was in a tight contest against Grandville and had a very slight 33-28 lead with two matches remaining.
Welch, normally the Rockets’ 215-pounder, had to fill in for the team’s 285-pounder, who was not available on Wednesday.
That meant Welch had to go up against a significantly heavier wrestler, with the outcome of the team match riding in his shoulders. He rose to the task, winning by a 7-2 score and giving the Rockets a 36-28 lead.
Devin Welch
Grandville won the last match by pin and gained six points, but Reeths-Puffer still held on for an exciting 36-34 non-conference victory, thanks to Welch’s big win over a bigger guy.
“It wasn’t the most exciting match for Devin,” said R-P head coach Brad Cowles, whose team had to come back from an early 16-9 deficit to get the win. “He gave up quite a bit of weight, but he did what he had to do to win the match. He really turned it up in the last period. He definitely stepped up for us.”
Reeths-Puffer also won the most important match of the night, a 46-31 victory over Jenison in O-K Green conference action.
The win gave the Rockets a 2-1 record in the conference standings and kept them in contention for their fourth straight O-K Green championship.
R-P is in second place behind Byron Center. The Rockets will have to beat Muskegon at home on Friday night, and Mona Shores next week, to remain in the fight for the title heading into the conference tournament.
Hunter Eek
“Overall our team looked like we are getting back on track and continuing to improve,” Coach Cowles said. “Against Jenison everyone took care of business. Against Grandville, Hunter Eek started our comeback with a big pin after we lost two in a row by pin. After that the team felt re-energized and excited to be back in the dual.”
Five wrestlers went 2-0 on the night for Reeths-Puffer – Welch, Landon Learn (113 pounds), Travis Henderson (126), Hunter Eek (144) and Tanner Cowles (150).
Braxton VanHohenstein (106) Aiden Neal (165), Andrew Corradin (175) and Lyric Stewart (190) all won one match.
In the girls’ competition, Brooklyn Colson (125) and Sidney Shakelford (145) both posted 1-0 records.