Tecumseh’s Bagby, Clinton’s Perry pick up third place medals at state

Both Tecumseh and Clinton High Schools had varsity wrestlers pick up third place medals at the state finals at the Palace of Auburn Hill last weekend.

Clinton had three reach the state podium. Senior Ryan Perry placed third at 145-pounds in Division 4 while teammate Scott Noble placed fifth at 119-pounds. Jesse Sexton medaled with an eighth place finish at 140-pounds for the Redskins.

Perry won his first match but lost 11-2 in his second bout against the eventual champion, Brandon Zeerip (61-1) of Hesperia. After dropping to the losers bracket, Perry closed out his career winning three-straight matches to finish third in the state. He defeated Joey Wolumn of Iron Mountain 8-5 in his final high school match. Perry opened with a win over Addison's Brandon Douglass and then earned an 8-5 win over Iron Mountain's Joey Wollum. The finals victory was also a milestone for the senior who finished the year 58-6, breaking the previous school record for wins in a season of 57 held by Louie Posa.
“I was so happy for Ryan, we worked all summer and we were only one match away from making it into the finals,” said Clinton coach Kevin Beazley. “I will miss Ryan very much. We have been together for four years.”

Noble went 56-9 as a Redskin junior, finishing only one win away from tying the old school record.

“Scott lost to Burris at districts so to beat him for fifth was awesome,” said Beazley. “I was so happy for Scott. This is Scott's third appearance at the state meet and to finally place lifted that burden off his shoulders.”

Sexton (47-17) lost his first match 7-3 but battled back with wins of 8-2 and 7-0 before losing 5-4 to Warren Watson of Niles Brandywine.

Henry Kokenakes (112) took an opening 7-5 overtime victory but fell his second time up to a major decision (10-0) against T.J. Berridge of Martin. He then fell 6-0 against Dakota Talbot of Sanford-Meridian.

Connor Koester wrestled at 130-pounds for Clinton but lost his first two matches of the meet.

“It was a great weekend for wrestling and it is an awesome venue,” said coach Beazley. “We had three place in the top 8 which is a great accomplishment. The “fab five” wore some warm-ups that were worn in the 80's for inspiration. They looked great and I thank them for bringing back the memories of my grand march in 1989.”

Tecumseh senior Sean Bagby placed third at 135-pounds in Division 2, finishing his high school career with five straight victories. He lost his first match and dropped to the losers bracket but defeated wrestlers from Ann Arbor Greenhills, Eaton Rapids, Flint/Kearsley, Dearborn Heights/Annapolis and Gaylord to pick up the third place finish. In his final high school bout he defeated Gaylord's Andrew Olds with a 7-2 decision. Bagby went 41-12 this season.

The Indians also had senior Robert Weirich (145) and juniors Travis McPherson (152) and Cass Marcum (103) advance to the state meet but none placed in the top eight.

Weirich lost his first match 9-2, won his second 6-3 but was eliminated from the top eight podium with a close 6-5 decision against Martin Bell of Eaton Rapids.

Marcum followed suit, losing his first match 9-4, winning his second 13-11, and then falling 6-2 against Steve Krcatovich of Allegan.

McPherson lost two in a row at 152-pounds with decisions of 9-3 and 11-8.