GAYLORD — Gaylord secured its sixth regional title in eight seasons with a close 34-29 victory over Bay City John Glenn on Wednesday at home in the Div. 2 regional final.
The Blue Devils held just a 31-29 lead entering the final match, and Gaylord’s Ty Bensinger secured the win to boost his team to the state quarterfinals.
“If I’ve got to put one kid out on the mat, it’s going to be Ty Bensinger to finish it up against that kid,” Gaylord head coach Jerry LaJoie said. “He tried to hit that move three times and he missed it and then he caught it right at the end, and he’s tough there so Ty came through and that’s what leaders do.”
“It’s my favorite takedown, and I knew I was going to eventually get it,” Bensinger said. “He was getting tired. I could tell so I felt it and I hit it.”
The Blue Devils defeated Petoskey, 63-18, in the regional semifinals. They will compete in the Div. 2 state quarterfinals next Friday in Kalamazoo.
Hart and Pine River will also be in the state quarterfinals. The Pirates secured wins over Muskegon Orchard View, 66-9, and Comstock Park, 44-27, to win their regional in Div. 3. The Bucks defeated Traverse City St. Francis, 45-27, and Mio, 50-23, to advance to the state quarterfinals in Div. 4.
The seed will be determined on Sunday, which will then determine the opponents for all three local teams. The team finals will be held at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo from Feb. 25-26.
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