Hampton, Mullins, Harper all place at Division 3 State Finals
Imlay City 135-pounder Wesley Hampton looks to turn over his opponent at the Division 3 state wrestling finals at Ford Field.
Tri-CITY AREA — Imlay City 135-pounder Wesley Hampton and 160-pounder Hunter Mullins claimed fourths plus their teammate 285-pounder Joe Harper registered a seventh last Saturday at the Division 3 individual state wrestling finals.
Ford Field, in Detroit, is where the action
unfolded.
Hampton began his stint at states Friday with a 12-1 win against Whitehall’s Jacob Haynes. Those competitors went into the battle as owners of 51-5 and 14-16 marks, respectively.
He then faced Onsted’s Bailey Wesley, who was 31-13 when they collided, next.
It was there Hampton improved to 2-0, picking up a 13-1 victory over Wesley (the eventual seventh-place finisher).
Those results locked up a semifinal appearance where he squared off versus Dundee’s Tyler Swiderski, who entered the clash at 30-11.
When the bout concluded, Swiderski (the eventual second-place finisher) prevailed 6-3.
Those outcomes gained him a spot in Saturday’s action where he met Standish-Sterling’s Dylan Kolbiaz, who was 42-11 when they battled. Their encounter drew to a close with Hampton ahead 6-0 over Kolbiaz (the eventual sixth-place finisher).
That meant Hampton would challenge Alma’s Jarret Ferman, who was 42-5 when they met, for third place honors. Their bout wrapped up with Ferman winning via the pinfall route with 2:21 gone.
For his performance, Hampton earned All-State accolades (reserved for the top-eight finishers in each weight class).
Hampton wrapped up the season at 51-5.
Mullins would duplicate his finish position.
He opened tournament action Friday with a 7-4 victory over Ida’s Kalim Low. Those wrestlers entered the fray sporting 39-9 and 37-16 marks, respectively.
Mullins then faced Portland’s Kyle Hinds, who was 45-10, when they met.
It was there Mullins went to 2-0 for the tournament, accomplishing the feat with a 10-2 victory.
Those verdicts secured Mullins a semifinal appearance where he squared off versus Hudsonville Unity Christian’s Seth Konynenbel, who entered the fray at 50-1.
When the encounter concluded, Konynenbel (the eventual second-place finisher) eked out a 2-1 triumph.
Those results earned him a spot in Saturday’s action where he faced Manistee’s Bryson Jensen, who was 53-4, when they collided. That bout ended with Mullins registering a 10-5 triumph over the eventual fifth-place finisher.
That meant Mullins would face Whitehall’s Trenton Blanchard, who was 43-8 when they met, for third place honors. Their confrontation drew to a close with Blanchard up 4-3.
For his effort, Mullins drew All-State plaudits (reserved for the top-eight finishers in each weight division).
Mullins ended the season at 42-9.
Harper saw to it he would acquire a podium finish as well.
He started his stint at states Friday against Gladwin’s James Bailey. Those competitors went into the battle as owners of 33-6 and 39-10 marks, respectively.
It was there Harper opened on a favorable note, pinning Bailey with 1:31 gone.
Harper then went up against Michigan Center’s Brock Kuhn, who was 47-2 when they met, next.
It was there Kuhn, the eventual second-place finisher, handed Harper a 6-0 setback.
Harper then squared off versus Muskegon Orchard View’s Jordan Tuttle, who entered the fray at 49-10, next.
When the bout
concluded, Harper improved to 2-1 on
the strength of a pin
with 2:30 gone.
Those outcomes gained him a spot in Saturday’s action where he faced Montrose’s Griffin Barnette, who
was 54-7 when they
battled. Their encounter drew to a close with Barnette (the eventual fourth-place finisher) ahead 7-1.
That meant Harper would challenge Dowagiac’s Wyatt
Bailey, who was 39-16 when they met, for seventh place honors. Their encounter ended with Harper prevailing via the pinfall route with 4:36 gone.
For his effort, Harper earned All-State accolades (reserved for the top-eight finishers in each weight class).
Harper finished the season at 36-6.
Almont’s Mathew Dwyer rounded out the list of Tri-City Area participants on hand at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Competing in the Division 3 state finals at 135 pounds, Dwyer began tournament action Friday against Alma’s Jarret Ferman. Those wrestlers entered the fray sporting 39-13 and 38-4 marks, respectively.
It was there Ferman (the eventual third-place finisher) registered a 15-7 triumph.
The Almont grappler then faced Sanford Meridian’s Nick Dodman, who was 43-14 when they met, next. Their battle drew to a close with Dodman (the eventual eighth-place finisher) up by a 3-0 score.
Dwyer wrapped up the season at 39-15.
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
