Blue Devils Battle at the Bridge Brawl

For the fourth year, the Sault High Blue Devils hosted the Bridge Brawl last weekend, welcoming fellow UP teams Escanaba, Marquette, Munising and St Ignace, to take on Inland Lakes, Cadillac, Mancelona, Sanford-Meridian, and Lakewood. At the end of five rounds, total wins and team points would determine each peninsula’s champion, and total points overall would determine the tournament champion. Coaches also voted for each peninsula’s MVP at the end of the day. 

The Sault had Inland Lakes in the first round, with some incredibly close matches. Wyatt Peabody (138) lost a close one by points to Gus Cooper (7-9). The teams then split a pair of voids, and Brett Siesel (157) was pinned at the end of the second period by Collin Maves. Sam Kiekhaefer (165) lost a tough match to Logan McMullen (0-1) and Jonah Rishmawi (175) put up a good fight against Mason Gardner (3-5), bringing the score to Sault 6; Inland Lakes 21. Marc DeWildt (190) put the Blue Devils back on track when he won by major decision (10-2). Cody Russo (215) quickly pinned Matthew Dornin (0:29) and Sawyer Kuenzer (285) pinned Evan Milbourne (0:47), putting the Blue Devils in the lead 22-21. The Sault claimed the remaining two weight classes by void, clinching the victory with a score of 34-21. 

The Sault had Cadillac next and started off the match by giving up the 132 lb weight class. Peabody (138) was pinned by Weston Auslett (1:22) and Caleb Klier (144) was pinned by Dominic Serafono (4:56), and the Blue Devils had another void, making the score Sault 0; Cadillac 24. The Vikings continued their pinning spree, when Siesel (157) was pinned by Maximus Norovich (1:15), and Kiekhaefer (165) was pinned by Nate Frenzy (1:23). Rishmawi (175) lost a close match to Ethan Downing (13-15) and DeWildt was pinned by Luke Phillips (2:55). The score was 0-45. Russo (215) put the first Blue Devils points on the board when he pinned Parker Rood (2:26) and Kuenzer followed with a second period pin (3:28). The final points scored for the Blue Devils was with a void in the 106 lb weight class. Hazen Hudson (113) lost by a technical fall to Charlie Shafer (0-16), and the Sault gave up the final two weight classes, making the final score Sault 18; Cadillac 62.

Head Coach Jacinto Arreola commented on the higher level of competition at the Brawl this year. “Taking a loss to tough competition, no matter who the opponent is, can be more valuable than getting a win against a less challenging team. While a win feels good in the moment, facing a higher level of competition pushes us to refine our skills, learn from our mistakes, and develop the grit we need for bigger challenges down the line.”

Next up for the Blue Devils was Mancelona. Peabody (138) was pinned by Theo Parzyck (5:00). Klier (144) countered with a quick pin (1:28), and Siesel (150) followed suit with another quick pin (1:19). The Sault voided at 157, and Kiekhaefer (165) won by points (11-9). Rishmawi (175) pinned Sayler Shaffer (1:22), DeWildt (190) pinned Jaden Grutsch (2:29), Russo (215) pinned Carson Phillips (0:42) and Kuenzer (285) followed with a pin over Gavin Woodcox (5:45). The Sault claimed the void at 106, and Hudson (113) pinned Bella Diesenroth (1:20). The final two weight classes went to the Ironmen, and the final score was Sault 59; Mancelona 24. 

Round four brought Lakewood to the Blue Devils’ mat. Klier (144) started things off right with a pin in the third period (5:27). Lakewood countered, when LJ Rogers pinned Siesel (150) in the second period, and the Sault gave up the 157 lb weight class. Kiekhaefer (165) was pinned by Gage LaRoche in the second period and Rishmawi (175) was pinned by Alex Risk (1:47). The score was Blue Devils 6; Vikings 24. DeWildt (190) won an exciting match by points (12-10), and Russo (215) pinned Jacob Everest (4:47). Kuenzer (285) was pinned by Joel Simon (5:24), Isaac Peabody (106) was pinned in the first period by Dakota Harmer, and Hudson (113) was pinned by Steven Aldrich (3:56). The Sault forfeited the next three weight classes, bringing the score to 15-42. The final match of the dual put Peabody (138) against Camden Wright. Peabody was down in points, but in the final seconds of the match put Wright on his back and pinned him. The final score was 21-42. 

The final dual of the day was against Sanford-Meridian. Siesel (150) quickly pinned Ethan Finney (0:13). The Sault gave up the 157 lb weight class. Kiekhaefer (165) pinned Aiden Mether (1:56). Rishmawi (175) lost by a technical fall (2-17), making the score Sault 12; Sanford Meridian 11. DeWildt (190) pinned Scotty Garrison (4:37), and Russo (215) won by points (9-3). Unsportsmanlike conduct by Russo’s opponent resulted in a team point being taken away, making the score now Sault 21; Sanford-Meridian 10. Kuenzer (285) pinned Blake Clark (0:20). Peabody (106) was pinned by Alex Sampson (2:34). The teams split the next five weight classes in voids, the Sault claiming 113 and 138, and Sanford-Meridian taking 120, 126 and 132. The score was Sault 39; Sanford-Meridian 34. A battle in the 144 lb weight class, Klier ended up getting pinned in the second period, making the final score 39-40. 

“I thought we wrestled tough, going 2-3 on the day. One of our losses was a one-point match against Sanford Meridian, and we were just 10 points shy of being the UP team champions. Giving up 24 points with four weight classes being forfeited made it an even tighter race.

All five of our matches were tough, and that’s exactly what we need to help us grow. Those tough matches expose areas where we can improve, and that’s where real progress happens. We strengthened our competition for our Bridge Brawl for a reason—tough matches make us better. As we’ve discussed before, we embrace tough competition because it’s the best way to push ourselves to new heights.”

Escanaba was crowned the UP Champion, while Lakewood squeaked past Cadillac to be crowned champion of the Lower Peninsula. Lakewood was also named overall tournament champion due to highest number of duals won, points earned, and weight classes filled. Marquette’s Talon Smith (285) earned the UP MVP plaque while Payton Sampson (150) of Cadillac took the honors for the lower peninsula. 

The Blue Devils 5-4, will travel to Reed City next weekend to participate in their Holiday Team Duals.