Brandon’s wrestling team hopes the growing pains they underwent in Coach Kent Bailo’s first year will pay off in the future.
The Blackhawks concluded their season in individual district competition Feb. 21 at Clio. Brandon managed only eight points on the day, with only two wrestlers earning wins on the day.
Joe Tolan (215) started out with a pin of North Branch’s Andy Ondrajka in 1:20. Tolan then was pinned by Flint Kearsley’s Josh Ferguson in 22 seconds, and lost a 15-0 technical fall to Swartz Creek’s Rob Schaibly.
The other Brandon wrestler to win a match that day was Austin Hickman (275), who pinned Oxford’s Adam Duncan in 45 seconds. He was subsequently pinned by Lapeer West’s Adam Antonides in 3:05 and by North Branch’s Pat McNulty in 4:24.
The Blackhawks ran into a formidable Flint Metro League foe Wednesday, Feb. 18 in team district competition at Lapeer West.
The host Panthers soundly defeated the Blackhawks 63-15 in the opening round of team districts. Three Brandon grapplers ? David Geeham, Justin Eimers and Joe Tolan ? earned victories in the matchup.
Geeham (140) pinned Brice Harris in 25 seconds; Eimers (171) defeated Thomas Younger by a 3-0 decision; and Tolan (215) pinned Launce Sulaty in 1:25.