GAYLORD – Gaylord High School is no stranger to great wrestling talent.
Many great wrestlers have gone through the Gaylord program and each has left their mark on the program in some way, either as a team or as individuals.
However, it may be difficult to surpass the achievements of this year’s senior class.
The Blue Devils bring back two state champions in senior Brayden Gautreau and Luden Stradling from the 2022 season, along with a 2020 MHSAA state runner-up team and multiple other top-ranked teams who were part of last year’s team. I returned the wrestler.
One of those returnees, senior Gus James, has long led the Gaylord program alongside his classmates, and in a recent matchup against Petoskey’s rival, James hit another milestone and set a new record. I put it in the book.
On Wednesday, January 18, James recorded his 100th and 101st career wins, beating Ogemor’s Torrey Walters and Petoskey’s Jaden VanderWaal as Blue Devils again won at both Petoskey and Ogemor Heights. and recorded triple-digit wins.
His performance was part of a dominant effort from the Blue Devils that night, scoring a 49-23 conference victory over rivals from Petoskey in a 70-6 victory over Ogemau. It was closed.
Photo: Gaylord hosts Petoskey in wrestling, hockey
The Gaylord, Petoskey, Ogemaw and Charlevoix quads began with the Northmen vs. Blue Devils rivalry, a matchup featuring two of the Big North’s best teams. Gaylord has been historically successful against Big North opponents over the past two seasons, and the Norsemen were no exception.
After Petoskey’s Trevor Suisse beat Zane Willoughby at £165, the Blue Devils took their seventh straight win. This includes impressive quick wins from Riley Hush (0:34 drop) at 215lbs and Jaron Bensinger (1:14 drop) at 106lbs. Pounds, a victory from Stradling at 150 and James’ 100th career victory over VanderWaal at 144 gave the Blue Devils enough to win.
Meanwhile, a follow-up matchup against Ogemor Heights was a dominant effort for nearly every Gaylord team, winning every weight class except the 165-pound class, going 70-6. Sunni LaFond (fall 0:32) had the fastest win of his nine matches, but Gaylord ran away with his second win that night, ending in a pinfall.
James’ 14–5 victory over Walters gave him the 101st win of his career.
result
Gaylord vs Ogemau
175: Brayden Gautreau (Gaylord HS) vs. Xander Cartes (Ogemau Heights HS) (Fall 5:33)
190: Ty Bensinger (Gaylord HS) vs Konner Lauria (Ogemaw Heights HS) (Fall 1:45)
215: Riley Hush (Gaylord HS) vs. Carter Schmidt (Ogemor Heights HS) (December 6-5)
285: Caden Sides (Gaylord HS) over Tanner Lee (Ogemaw Heights HS) (Fall 2:45)
106: Jaron Bensinger (Gaylord HS) vs. Charlie Bruder (Ogemor Heights HS) (Fall 2:42)
120: Joseph Cummings (Gaylord HS) vs. Marissa Monroe (Ogemor Heights HS) (Fall 2:48)
126: Tristan Lehre (Gaylord HS) over Unknown (For.)
132: Ethan Eubanks (Gaylord HS) vs. Lance Monroe (Ogemor Heights HS) (December 9-3)
138: Austin Morse (Gaylord HS) vs. Nolan Irig (Ogemor Heights HS) (Fall 3:42)
144: Louden Stradling (Gaylord HS) over Austin Broadway (Ogemaw Heights HS) (Fall 2:45)
150: Gus James (Gaylord HS) Over Torrey Walters (Ogemor Heights HS) (MD 14-5)
157: Zane Willoughby (Gaylord HS) vs. Connor Lambert (Ogemor Heights HS) (Fall 2:00)
165: Karter Giddens (Ogemaw Heights HS) vs Ethan Chandler (Gaylord HS) (Fall 5:02)
Team Score: Gaylord 70, Ogemau 6
Gaylord vs. Petoskey
165: Trevor Suisse (Petoskey HS) vs. Zane Willoughby (Gaylord HS) (Fall 5:05)
175: Ty Bensinger (Gaylord HS) over Connor Grebe (Petoskey HS) (TF 26-9 4:56)
190: Brayden Goatreau (Gaylord HS) vs. Kenny Roberts (Petoskey HS) (Fall 3:11)
215: Riley Hush (Gaylord HS) vs. Gavin Phillips (Petoskey HS) (Fall 0:34)
285: Caden Sides (Gaylord HS) vs Adam Goodwin (Petoskey HS) (MD 15-3)
106: Jaron Bensinger (Gaylord HS) vs. Maxim Markowski (Petosky HS) (Fall 1:14)
113: Sunni LaFord (Gaylord HS) over Unknown (For.)
120: Joseph Cummings (Gaylord HS) vs. Will Spencer (Petoskey HS) (Fall 1:34)
126: Ryan Cook (Petoskey HS) vs. Tristan Lehre (Gaylord HS) (Fall 0:49)
132: Robert Patrick (Petoskey HS) vs. Ethan Eubanks (Gaylord HS) (TF 17-2 4:00)
138: Austin Morse (Gaylord HS) vs. Zahar Rush (Petoskey HS) (December 7-5)
144: Gus James (Gaylord HS) vs. Jaden VanderWaal (Petoskey HS) (December 3-2)
150: Louden Stradling (Gaylord HS) over Brendan Swiss (Petoskey HS) (MD 17-5)
157: Tyler Dohm (Petoskey HS) over Unknown (For.)
Team Score: Gaylord 49, Petoskey 23