The Reeths-Puffer wrestling program had a lot of very strong athletes this season, spanning all four grade levels of high school.
But there are only two Rockets still alive in the MHSAA individual state tournament, and both are talented underclassmen who are already reaching the top levels of their sport.
Freshman Landon Learn and sophomore Sidney Shackelford both won individual regional championships on Saturday, and will be headed to the Division 1 state finals at Detroit’s Ford Field among the top four seeds in their weight classes.
Learn won the 113-pound championship at the Division 1 regional tournament at Portage Northern High School.
Regional champion Landon Learn
He posted a perfect 3-0 record, and was extra impressive by pinning all three opponents.
Learn pinned Holt’s Nolan Root in 1:35 in the quarterfinal round and Forest Hills Northern’s Dylan Furlo in 58 seconds in the semifinals.
He then completed the trifecta by pinning Hasting’s Hunter Sutfin in 5:22 in the championship match.
Learn is now 48-1 on the season. He bounced back nicely after losing his first match of the season last week in a team regional match.
“Landon was in control in every aspect of each match,” said R-P head coach Brad Cowles. “He handled Hunter Sutfin with ease, and Hunter placed fourth at state last year.” 
Regional champion Sidney Shackelford
Shackelford won the 145-pound championship at the regional tournament in Cadillac. She became the first Reeths-Puffer girls wrestler to win a regional title, and the first to qualify for the state finals.
She won her title by beating Forest Hills Central’s Lulu Cousins 5-3 in a tight semifinal match, then pinning Gladwin’s Charlotte Mawhorter in 1:23 in the championship match.
Shackelford is 29-10 on the season.
“Sidney was on a mission to make it to state this year after getting beat out last season at regionals,” Cowles said. “She brought her A game to Cadillac, finishing her semifinals match with a come-from-behind win and dominating her opponent in the finals match.
:”I am very excited to see how Landon and Sidney compete at Ford Field.”