It’s been quite a week for the Reeths-Puffer wrestling team.
On Saturday the Rockets jumped from second place in their conference into a tie for the championship by winning the O-K Green tournament.
Their success continued on Wednesday, when R-P plowed past Mona Shores and Muskegon to win a Division 1 team district championship at Mona Shores High School.
The Rockets now advance to team regionals, which they will host next Wednesday.
“I couldn’t be more proud of this group,” said R-P head coach Brad Cowles. “They wrestled with intensity, grit and outwrestled their opponents in every position. The team earned this title through hard practices, tough conditioning and believing in each other.
“I am proud to be their coach. On to the next one.”
The Rockets pose with their district championship trophy.
The Rockets opened the evening with a 47-33 win over Mona Shores in the semifinal round.
R-P had the match well in hand far before it was over, building a 47-16 lead then cruising to the win.
The Rockets gained 14 important bonus points with four pins and one technical fall.
Winning by pin were Braxton VanHohenstein (106 pounds), Landon Learn (120), Cory Judd (132), and Jake Rozycki (150). Winning by technical fall was Zayden Zlotnicki (138).
R-P had an even easier time against Muskegon in the finals, cruising to a 66-5 victory to earn the championship trophy.
R-P seniors Cory Judd, Jake Rozycki and Andrew Corradin.
Muskegon advanced to the finals by beating Grand Haven in the semifinal round.
Winning by pin against the Big Reds were Jackson Streit (113), Learn (120), Clay Rozycki (126), and Aiden Neal (165).
Judd won by technical fall at 132 pounds while Hunter Eek (144) and Jake Rozycki (150) won by major decision.
The Rockets prevailed despite having two key wrestlers, Travis Henderson and Troy Swingley, missing from the lineup.
Coach Cowles said the team is coming together at the perfect time, at the point in the season when there are trophies to be won.
R-P's Landon Learn and Jakson Streit.
“Regular season wins and losses don’t mean too much,” the coach said. “It’s the postseason that really matters. We wanted to win at the right time.
“We have really turned up the intensity in the wrestling room in the last few weeks. The kids have not shied away, and their hard work is paying off.”
Three other teams will join the Rockets in regionals next Wednesday after winning their own district titles – conference rival Byron Center, Grandville and Rockford.
R-P beat out Byron Center in the conference tournament, and beat Grandville in a dual match earlier in the season. Rockford, ranked in the top 10 in the state, will be favored, but Cowles said his team will not be intimidated.
“We have a team that can beat them,” he said. “As long as we’re healthy and everybody does their job, I think we have a real good shot.”