CADILLAC — Super Bowl Sunday might have been last week, but Super Regional Sunday in Cadillac produced some champions of its own as girl grapplers took to the mat in hopes of claiming gold and qualifying for state.
Two area wrestlers emerged victorious as regional title winners. Gaylord’s Sunni LaFond cruised to the finals in the 115-pound weight bracket, and Benzie Central’s Cambrie Lawrence ran through her competition at 130 pounds en route to a finals appearance as well.
LaFond came in as the top seed in her weight class, earning a first-round bye. She knocked off her second-round opponent with a pin in just 61 seconds, won her quarterfinal match via pin in 66 seconds and qualified for the championship bout with another pin — this one taking just a little more time at 76 seconds.
The junior Blue Devil then went head to head with Powers North Central’s Madalynn Corrigan, who advanced to the finals from the middle of the bracket. LaFond (26-6) couldn’t complete the pin sweep, but she earned a 9-2 decision win to capture the regional championship and earn a spot at the individual state finals at Ford Field on March 1-2.
Lawrence was also the No. 1 seed in her weight bracket. The senior came into the day undefeated on the season, and she finished the day with a zero still in the loss column.
After a first-round bye, Lawrence picked up a pinfall victory in the quarterfinals in 3 minutes, 41 seconds and won via tech fall in the semifinals in 4:34 to move to 20-0 on the year.
Victory No. 21 came with a regional championship as Lawrence won via pinfall in 2:20 against Shepherd’s Kerra White Pigeon, sending the Huskie to Ford Field.
Also qualifying for the state finals in the 130-pound bracket was Traverse West’s Anna Beers, who just so happened to be celebrating her 16th birthday on Sunday.
And what a way to celebrate. Beers won her quarterfinal match via pin in 3:37 before falling to White Pigeon by a 10-2 major decision in the semis. The sophomore Titan rebounded nicely, however, and won the consolation championship with a pin in 5:31 to take third place and earn a trip to Detroit.
Beers will be joined at Ford Field by fellow Titan Abigayle Dahl. Dahl won her quarterfinal match via pin in 1:01 but lost in the semis. She finished fourth to qualify for state after battling through the consolation bracket.
Charlevoix’s Katherine Matter will be joining nine of her fellow boys Rayder wrestlers in Detroit. Matter made it to the championship finals of Saturday’s regional at 135 pounds before falling short against top-seeded Ava Niedzielski out of Grand Rapids Northview.
Kingsley’s Adalene Chambers won’t be lonely at the state finals either after she took third place at 170 pounds on Sunday. Five wrestlers from the Stags’ boys squad earned spots at state finals after their regional performances Sunday.
Chambers lost in the quarterfinals but then battled back in the secondary bracket to win the consolation title via pinfall in 2:01.
Manistee’s Ava Pike took a similar route to earn a spot at Ford Field. The junior Mariner won in the quarters of the 100-pound weight bracket by an 8-2 decision but lost in the semis via pinfall.
Pike shrugged off the loss and handled business in the consolation bracket, winning her semis match by a 9-0 major decision and then taking the consolation championship and third place with a 7-2 victory.
Other area wrestlers also qualifying for the state finals tournament were Grayling’s Mandy Andrews at 120 pounds, Manton’s Ava Coleman at 125 pounds, Lake City’s Camille Mitchell at 140 pounds, Manton’s Kennedi Wahmhoff at 145 pounds, and fellow Ranger Makayla Gowell at 155 pounds.