By By TOM NYHUIS / Niles Daily Star
BATTLE CREEK - Saturday's semifinal wrestling match at the Division 3 MHSAA team dual tournament pitted two totally different teams.
The difference between the two sent Buchanan home without the state trophy it had set its sights on as Roscommon defeated the Bucks 59-15.
For Buchanan High School, who entered the match with a 29-2 record, it was a team competing in for the school's first trip to a state championship since 1972. It was also a new venture for coach Frank Mucha, who in his 26th year as the Bucks' head coach, had never been to a state tournament.
Their challenger, Roscommon High, 42-5, was in its third consecutive trip, and fourth time overall for coach George LeFramboise in only his eighth years at the helm. One thing that each had in common was the young team line ups.
Roscommon started four seniors, six juniors and four sophomores, while Buchanan was led by five seniors, six juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.
The experience of having been at the state tournament prior to Saturday's showdow. With the win, Roscommon advanced to Saturday afternoon's Division 3 championship at the Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek.
Roscommon led 9-0 after the first two matches as David Medlin (145) dropped a 5-0 decision and Auston Ferris (152) was pinned. It was the first of nine pins against Buchanan for Roscommon.
A.J. Long put the Buchanan Bucks on the board, 9-6, with a pin at :53 over his opponent at the 160 weight class. At 171 Ryan Harrington was pinned by Adam Peterson at 3:45 and Rosscomon was up 15-6. Buchanan senior Jim Connors picked up another three points for the Bucks at 189 with a 4-2 sudden death win, and giving his team a fighting chance to stay in the match. Three straight pins by Roacommon over Justin Brown (215), Phil Metz (275), and David Knisely (103) put the more powerful Bucks in charge with a demanding 33-9 advantage.
Todd Taylor earned Buchanan's final six points with a pin at 112 over Ryan McClure at 2:50, and Buchanan trailed 33-15.
For seniors Travis Reith, Tyler Mitchell, Phil Metz, David Medlin, Jim Connors and Dan Toth the dream of bringing home a state title fell short. But for the rest, another day will come for that opportunity next season.
In the finals, Roscommon was defeated by Richmond 49-20. Richmond advanced to the finals with a 29-27 upset win over previously undefeated Corunna.
DIVISION 3 SEMIFINALS
Roscommon 59
Buchanan 15
145 - Jon Domsitz (R) dec David Medlin (B), 5-0
152 - Trevor Tyler (R) fall Auston Ferris (B), 2:27
160 - A.J. Long (B) fall John Floeter (R), :53
171 - Adam Peterson (R) fall Ryan Harrington (B), 3:45
189 - Jim Connors (B) dec Derek Bradley (R), 4-2 (SD)
215 - Dustin Kelly (R) fall Justin Brown
(B), 4:34
275 - Shawn Williams(R) fall Phil Metz (B), 4:13
103 - Justin Bragg (R) fall David Knisely (R), 1:41
112 - Todd Taylor (B) fall Ryan McClure (R), 2:50
119 - Greg Janisse (R) fall Tony Taylor (B) :39
125 - Joey Schneider (R) dec Nick Wheetley (B), 7-2
130 - Brandon Roose (R) fall Drew Medlin (B), :59
135 - Kody Diola (R) fall Travis Reith (B), 3:12
140 - Nick Lorenc (R) tech fall Tyler Mitchell (B), 4:21
Records: Buchanan (29-3), Roscommon (43-5)##