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Lowell storms to second consecutive Division 2 team wrestling title, defeats Eaton Rapids 40-16
Battle Creek – Lowell entered the postseason ranked No. 1 by State Champs, a rankings that includes all divisions.
To finish as the top team, the Red Arrows had to knock down Eaton Rapids, the team that eliminated St. Johns, which was ranked No. 1 before it was upset in the regional finals.
Behind a brutal run that included wins over several top 10 teams, Eaton Rapids could not match up against Lowell in Saturday’s Division 2 state finals at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
Lowell opened with a swift pin at 119 by Lucas Hall and never looked back, grabbing a 21-4 advantage through five weight classes and rolling to a 40-16 victory.
The win secured the Red Arrows’ second straight state title and fifth overall — the first for new head coach R.J. Boudro. Lowell’s state championship last season came via criteria tiebreaker over St. Johns, which won four straight state titles from 2010-14.
Lowell has also recorded six state runner-up finishes.
“It feels like I am not really here right now. I can’t explain it,” Boudro said. “To be part of this as a head coach is amazing. Coach (Dave) Dean had built this program into something special. Everything he has done is still here. Now this group came in here and carried on the tradition.”
Eaton Rapids had already knocked out Mason and DeWitt to go along with its win over top-ranked St. Johns last week. The Greyhounds ousted Niles in Saturday morning’s state semifinals but couldn’t find the same magic in the final match.
“In an era of dynasties, we’re still (one of) the best teams in the state,” said Eaton Rapids coach Joe Ray Berry. “All of our kids have come up through our youth program and middle schools to be part of this. They are born and raised in Eaton Rapids (with no transfers).”
Lowell, with only four seniors in the starting lineup, won nine of 14 matches and led by double digits throughout most of the meet.
Eaton Rapids (41-3), which has eight state championships and seven runner-up finishes all-time, did cut the deficit down to 24-16 with four weight classes to go. Lowell’s Josh Colegrove posted a pin at 215 to move the lead up to 30-16 to give the Red Arrows some serious cushion.
Lowell closed out the match with a 16-0 run.
Other Lowell winners include Aaron Ward (125) and Zeth Dean (130).
