Sault Blue Devils Take on the Challenge; Russo Pins His Way to the Top

This weekend, Sault High sent two squads to compete in high level competition in Marquette County. At the 50th Annual Marquette Challenge, senior Cody Russo came back with the gold in the 215 lb weight class, as well as an award for the most pins. In his first round, Russo pinned Gavin Garrison of Petoskey (1:00). He then went on to pin Ben Wilson from Gladstone (5:26) and Kahne Clarke from Menominee (0:55). Russo pinned Kingsford’s Mason Tappy (1:48) to secure his place in the championship match. Sawyer Blaszczyk of Charlevoix was ready for battle. At the end of three periods, the score was 1-1, forcing an overtime period. Russo scored first with a takedown, sending him to the top of the podium. He joins an elite group of Blue Devils to have won this competition. The last time the Sault sent wrestlers to The Challenge was during the 2015/2016 season, where Chase Boucher returned as champion. According to Russo, “It was a big step in the right direction and it was a big moment to see the hard work paying off so far and definitely a motivating factor to keep working hard but the jobs not finished. I’ve been wrestling for 11 years and my goals for the rest of the season is to win UP finals and place top 5 at state.”

Senior Sawyer Kuenzer also made the podium, earning a third place finish in the 285 lb weight class. He pinned both Aiden Salfi of Petoskey (0:35) and Joel Fish  of Constantine (4:37). In the semifinal match he lost to Caiden Sides of Gaylord by points (4-2). Kuenzer took bronze after defeating Talon Smith of Marquette by decision (11-5). 

Freshman Hazen Hudson (113, 0-2), senior Max VanDoren (132, 0-2), junior Wyatt Peabody (138, 2-2), junior Caleb Klier (144, 2-2) and senior Brett Siesel (150, 0-2) also took to the mat on Saturday for some fierce competition. In a field of 27 teams from all over the Upper Peninsula, northern Wisconsin and Lower Michigan, the seven Blue Devil grapplers earned a combined 66 points. This put them in the top ten teams, only second to one other team from the UP. 

“Sending your varsity wrestling team to one of the toughest tournaments in Northern Michigan provides invaluable opportunities for growth and success. Wrestlers gain exposure to high-level competition, pushing them to adapt to different styles and intensities while preparing for the postseason. These events simulate the pressure of district, regional, and state tournaments, giving athletes the experience needed to improve their skills and strategies. Facing elite opponents highlights areas for development, helping both wrestlers and coaches focus on refining techniques. The shared challenges provide a benchmark to measure progress against the region’s best, ultimately elevating the team’s overall performance and preparing them for future success.” Head Coach Jacinto Arreola added, “Our team performed exceptionally well, battling through challenging brackets and competing against some of the best wrestlers from Michigan and Wisconsin. This tournament provided an excellent opportunity for all our wrestlers to see where we’ve made improvements and identify areas that still need work. Facing some of the state’s toughest competition early in the season is a valuable stepping stone, helping us set the tone for continued growth and success as we move forward.”

Friday night, a squad of Blue Devil grapplers competed in the JV Challenge in Westwood, facing wrestlers from all over Michigan and Wisconsin. Two won their round robin style brackets, and another was runner up. 

Sophomore Sam Kiekhaefer (165) pinned Ezekiel Post of Gwinn (1:28) and Zeke Fritsch of Florence (0:20). His final match was against Jacob Cunningham of Menominee, where he won by points (9-3).

Senior Calvin Aldrich (215) pinned all of his opponents, also earning gold. He first pinned Fischar Campbell of Norway (1:50), then Gunner Nordeen of Gwinn (1:46), and lastly Aubree Croasdell of Escanaba (1:24). 

Junior Jonah Rishmawi (190) was runner up in his round robin bracket. He pinned Ashton Thurber of Gwinn (0:41) then lost by decision to Avery VanHeest of Grandville (8-5). 

Other Blue Devils that took the mat Friday night include Isaac Peabody (106, 1-3) and Chase Tracey (120, 0-2). Ayla Menard (110, 0-2) participated in the all girls tournament that same night. 

According to Coach Arreola, sending wrestlers to a JV tournament is beneficial. “Big emphasis on growth & confidence building. With less pressure to perform at a high-stakes varsity level, JV tournaments create a learning-focused environment where wrestlers can grow. Wrestlers have a better chance of experiencing success, such as scoring points, earning takedowns, or even winning matches, which boosts morale and encourages continued improvement.”

Next up for the Blue Devils is a dual in Manistique on Wednesday, followed by the Bridge Brawl at home on Saturday. 

Photo Credit: Blue Devils Wrestling Coaches and Parents