The Clinton Varsity Wrestling Team started Christmas Break with a bang at the Martin Clipper Classic Team Tournament.  Clinton finished the tough field by earning a Runner Up finish.  The field was stacked with multiple ranked teams and Clinton finished 4-1 on the day in duals.  In the opening round Clinton wrestled division 2 powerhouse Stevensonville Lakeshore in a great high school wrestling match.  The match finished tied 39-39 and Clinton won on the 6th criteria of most first points scored in matches.  It was a barn burner that saw Clinton jump out to sizeable lead, only for Lakeshore to come storming back.  Junior Cliff Jones currently ranked 4th in the state my Michigan Grappler saw his season debut at 165 pounds and picked up a third period pin to start the Redwolves off.  In the next match at 175 pounds junior Bryce Randolph also had his season debut and the number ranked Randolph earned a quick pin in just 10 seconds.  Gradyn Whelan followed that up at 190 pounds with a pin in just 54 seconds.  Landon Lakatos jumped up to 215 pounds and earned a quick pin of his own in just 23 seconds.  Hamza Rafferty got a first period pin at heavyweight as well.  Clinton was up 30-0 after the first five matches.  Lakeshore picked up pins at 106 and 113 before Zach Taylor got Clinton back on the board with a pin at 120 pounds to put Clinton up 36-12.  Clinton then gave up three pins in a row at 126, 132, and 138 to close the gap at Clinton 36 Lakeshore 30.  Braylon Long stopped the momentum and earned the win 4-1 at 144 pounds.  Clinton lost at 150 pounds by pin, but Tanner Bolton made his season debut as well and even though he dropped his match is saved the team bonus points and helped win the dual.  It was a one great dual and the Redwolves came out on top 40-39 after winning on criteria and another point was added.  

In round two Clinton wrestled a tough St. Joseph Team and came away with a huge 51-28 win.  The match started at 175 pounds with Junior Captain Bryce Randolph starting out the dual with his second pin in under a minute (48 seconds).  At 190 pounds Gradyn Whelan picked up a first period pin as well.  Owen Wright stepped in at 215 pounds and picked up a win.  Hamza Rafferty earned his second pin at Hwt.  Hudson Miller picked up the win at 106 pounds for the Pack.  Wyatt Cooley dropped his matcha t 113, but Zach Taylor earned another pin for the Redwolves.  Max Delphy was able to get some action, but was unable to convert at 126.  Joe Hodges dropped his match at 132 pounds and Braxton Randolph dropped his match at 138 pounds.  Braylon Long picked up a major decision 14-0 at 144 pounds.  Isaac Keibler dropped his match at 150 pounds, but Cliff Jones earned a technical fall 18-2 at 157 pounds.  John Keibler finished the dual with a pin at 165 pounds.  

Round three saw Clinton who is ranked 5th in the state taking on the host Martin who is ranked 4th in the state.  It was an exciting dual, but Martin won 25-46 as Clinton held out a couple of wrestlers during the match.  Landon Lakatos started the dual at 190 pounds with a close loss after battling.  Freshman Gradyn Whelan bumped up to 215 to wrestle a top 10 ranked 215 pounder.  Whelan earned the win 9-4 is a gutsy performance behind two big takedowns.  Hamza Rafferty earned his third pin at Hwt. Clinton dropped both matches at 106 and 113.  At 120 pounds Zach Taylor earned a 16-1 technical fall.  Clinton dropped matches at 126 and 132 pounds, before Braylon Long picked up a win over a returning all stater who is ranked 6th and Long dominated for a 17-0 technical fall at 138 pounds.  At 144 pounds Braxton Randolph dropped a close hard fought match 11-16.  Isaac Keibler and Austin Putnam both dropped their matches at 150 and 157 pounds.  John Keibler lost a close match at 165 pounds, before Bryce Randolph closed out the dual with a pin at 175 pounds.  It was a great dual and our young team is learning a lot in areas they have to improve on.  

In the fourth match of the day without a break, Clinton dug in and bounced back with a win over division two Allegan.  Owen Wright started the dual at 215 pounds and earned a 7-5 win for the Pack.  Then Rafferty earned a 7-1 win at Hwt.  At 106 Hudson Miller dropped his match, then Zach Taylor earned a pin at 113 pounds.  Wyatt Cooley bumped up at earned a major decision win 12-4 at 120 pounds.  At 126 Brock Worden dropped a close match 9-10 after almost getting pin during the match.  He wrestled hard, but just fell a little short.  Joe Hodges dropped his match at 132 pounds and Braxton Randolph dropped his match at 138 pounds 2-14.  Braylon Long picked up a major decision win 9-0 at 144 pounds over anther state qualifier.  Both Isaac Keibler and Tanner Bolton dropped their matches at 150 and 157 pounds.  Cliff Jones picked up another win at 165 pounds 9-4 over anther state qualifier.  Bryce Randolph picked up another pin at 175 pounds over returning state qualifier and top ten opponent.  At 190 pounds Gradyn Whelan finished the dual and sealed the win for the team with a 15-2 major decision.  The dual came down to the last several matches and Clinton pulled out the win by taking out some of Allegan's best wrestlers.  the final score was Clinton 33 Allegan 31.

After a team talk and a round off the Redwolves looked great in the final match against Whitehall who is ranked 2nd in Division 3.  Clinton lost to Whitehall last year in the state semifinals and this it was Clinton earning the win 41-26.  This was an exiting dual and provided the best wrestling so far this year by this young Clinton team.  The match started at 106 pounds and Hudson Miller battled and had some huge improvements, but lost 6-11.  Wyatt Cooley hard a gritty performance at 113 pounds and came out on top 8-7.  Zach Taylor bumped up to 120 pounds to take on a returning state qualifier and someone he lost to last year, but this time Taylor had the upper hand in winning a high scoring match 17-12.  Brock Worden dropped his match at 126 pounds but fought hard to save the team some points.  Joe Hodges put together his best overall match of the day and showed what he is capable of and winning 6-3.  Braxton Randolph put together a great match from start to finish at 138 pounds and dominated for a 12-0 major decision.  Braylon Long picked up a pin for the Redwolves at 144 pounds to put Clinton up 19-8.  Isaac Keibler competed against a tough regional qualifier and earned a dominant win at 150 pounds with a pin after earning three takedowns.  At 157 pounds Tanner Bolton dropped his match.  Cliff Jones won a big match against the number 6 guy and returning state qualifier at 165 pounds with a 15-6 major decision.  At 175 pounds Bryce Randolph earned his 5th pin of the day, this time is 18 seconds.  Gradyn Whelan took on the defending state champ and dropped his match at 190 pounds.  Then Owen Wright took on the number two guy in the state at 215 pounds, but dropped his match as well.  Hamza Rafferty finished the dual and the win for the Redwolves at Hwt. with a pin.  

Overall Clinton had a great day with some ups and some downs, but the finish with the win over Whitehall was amazing.  The team is realizing what our potential is as a team and what their potential could be as individuals as well.  I walked away very proud of how we competed and the direction the team is headed.  The team will compete at the Salem Elks Tournament on Friday, Dec. 27th.  The girls will travel to Montague on the 27th as well.