In a night of pending weather looming for everyone, the host school and those competing agreed to move up the time of the MHSAA Team Regional Meet to start at 4pm instead of the original 6pm to help with travel.  The host school Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest was nearly an hour and a half a away, but Clinton had many fans in the stands that still made the trip.  Dedicated to watching and supporting these young adults chase a dream.  In the Regional Semi Final Clinton faced the host school Lutheran Northwest and came away with a shut out win, 84-0.  It was during that match when coaches realized our team was ready to compete to the best of their ability and boy did they compete hard.  Starting off in the semi final match Senior Drew McNatt got the nod to start and he did not disappoint.  He has worked hard since joining the program jus a few short years ago and was able to secure a pin in the MHSAA tournament.  Others winning matches were Hudson Miller (106), Damion Fivenson (113), Wyatt Cooley (120), Max Delphy (126), Braxton Randolph (132), Braylon Long (138), Jaxon Phillip (144), Tanner Bolton (150), Cliff Jones (157), John Keibler (165), Bryce Randolph (175), Landon Lakatos (190), and Owen Wright (215).  All scored six team points to help the team score the maximum points allowed in a dual meet with 84 points.  

The regional final was set as the Manchester Flying Dutchmen ranked third in the state defeated Memphis in the other semi final.  Clinton came in ranked 6th in the state and with some losses on their record due to a very challenging schedule, competing against top ranked opponents from all divisions.  But Clinton took their 24-10 record and improved it to 26-10, a regional championship and a trip back to the MHSAA Team State Championships at Kalamazoo's K Wings Stadium.  

The match started at 106 pounds were two ranked opponents stepped on the mat in a crucial match up for both teams.  Clinton's Hudson Miller had just narrowly defeated Manchester's Ryker Kleinschnidt on Saturday for 3rd place 4-2.  This time was even closer and neither wanted to give an inch and fought the entire six minute match.  After a scoreless first period Hudson choose bottom and was able to earn an escape to go up 1-0 through the second period.  In the third period Manchester chose bottom and was able to earn an escape as well to tie the score at 1-1.  That is how the score would end in regulation.  Going into the one minute overtime, neither wrestler could score. Then they went to double overtime where each wrestler gets to go top and bottom.  Once again neither wrestlers could score.  Then came the third overtime or better known as the ultimate tie breaker.  What ever wrestler scored first in the match gets their choice of top or bottom.  It a bold move Clinton Coaches had Hudson take top.  Hudson was able to earn the ride out in dramatic fashion and was awarded a point to win 2-1 to set the stage and tone of the entire dual.  Hudson may be just a sophomore, but wrestled like a composed season veteran.  At 113 freshman Wyatt Cooley picked up a win by forfeit for the team.  Next was sophomore Zach Taylor, who was asked to weigh in at a heavier weight as a strategic move, and it paid off for the Redwolves.  Taylor took out the 126 pounds district champ, who dropped to 120 for the meet.  Zach proceeded to attack with offense all match long.  Getting back to his attacks was critical to the match.  Zach scored six takedowns during the match and a set of nearfall points to earn a huge technical fall win for the team 21-3.  Team score after three matches was Clinton 14 Manchester 0.  Freshman Brock Worden had a tall task competing against a two time state finalist in Sammy Stewart and was defeated but competed hard at 126 pounds.  At 132 pounds Freshman Braxton Randolph competed against Chase Conklin. Braxton was able to picked up the opening takedown and finished the first period up 3-0.  In the second period Braxton chose down and earned an escape, then a second takedown to go up 7-0 going into the third period.  Manchester chose top in hops of getting a turn and possible pin, but Braxton continued to fight off his opponents offense and was able to secure a reversal to go up and finish the match with a 9-0 win. He collected a major decision and extra bonus point for the team. Another Freshman Jackson Phillip stepped in at 138 pounds, again picked up the opening takedown to go up 3-0 at the end of the first period.  In the second period Jaxon gave up a penalty point for locked hands and a reversal to tie the score at 3-3.  But Jaxon continued to battled and picked up a reversal of his own and put his opponent on his back and secured the pin for the Redwolves.  Another huge team win by the freshman.  Senior Captain Braylon Long bumped up to 144 pounds to defeat Adam Grebe with a technical fall 21-6 after compiling four takedowns, and two different sets of nearfall points.  Braylon continues to help lead this team with action and perseverance.  Next was Freshman Isaac Keibler competing at 150 pounds against a 5th ranked senior Nathan Meyer.  Isaac battled to a 0-0 first period, and in the second period Meyer went down and was able to escape and pick up a takedown to finish the second period up 4-0.  In the third period Isaac took neutral and was in a dog fight and wrestling hard, but gave up a takedown and eventually a pin.  But he pushed the top ranked senior and competed hard for his team.  Junior Cliff Jones competed at 157 pounds against Vince Budd and dominated from start to finish.   Jones earned a 17-2 technical fall getting the team five more points. During the match Cliff picked up four takedowns and a set of nearfall points along the way.  Team score update after 157 pounds:  Clinton 33 Manchester 18.  John Keibler wrestled a returning state finalist and number one ranked wrestler, Blake Sloan and battled for his team and truly surrendering the outcome. Which is exactly how we want to compete.  Focusing on score points, competing hard, and emptying our gas tanks.   John was defeated, but battled hard for his team.  Junior Bryce Randolph picked up a pin for the Redwolves at 175 pounds in just 33 seconds.  Clinton 39 Manchester 24.  Freshman Gradyn Whelan battled through many obstacles to compete hard for his team.  Manchester bumped up a 175 pounder in Drake Neff to try to take him out, but Whelan had other plans as he defeated Neff 13-5 for a major decision.  Gradyn picked up two takedowns, some nearfall and a reversal on his way to the win.  At 215 pounds Owen Wright battled hard against the number 2 ranked wrestler, Nathan Fletcher.  The match went to Fletcher, but the sophomore showed that Redwolf spirit that we look for during his battle. Senior Captain Hamza Rafferty had the opportunity to finish the dual against another ranked opponent and came out with a 10-0 major decision.  Hamza picked up two takedowns and some nearfall points in the first period that we thought might have the pin, but it wasn't there.  None the less he competed great and sealed the victory with the win.  Final  Score Clinton 47 Manchester 24 for the MHSAA Division 4 Regional Championship.

I am extremely proud of our effort, our resolve, and our grit as a team.  Our improvements this year and been constant.  The Redwolves now move on the Elite Eight in the state quarter finals at Kalamazoo's K Wings Stadium on Friday, Feb. 21st(my wife's birthday) at Noon.  The seeding committee will meet on Sunday and we will know after that meeting was we are seeded and who we will be wrestling in the first round.  As a community we ask that you take the time to come up and support this great team.  We have 46 wrestlers on this team that work hard to represent our school, family, and this community.  I hope that you make the trip on Friday to watch these young warriors battle to make it to the state semi finals, or final four on Saturday.  We want to see a large and loud crowd for these wrestlers.