By By SCOTT NOVAK / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Cassopolis' John McCoy and Brandywine's Jeremy Hechtl both won their opening round matches in Division 4 at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Individual State Wrestling Finals on Thursday afternoon.
Hechtl pinned Michael Winterhalter of Romulus Summit Academy in 3:02 to advance to the championship quarterfinals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Hechtl will face Cody Sehl of Mancelona this morning. Sehl pinned Zack Ritter of Byron Area in 3:12 of his 215-pound match.
McCoy won by technical fall as he defeated Dayne Derosiers of Memphis, 17-2, at 145-pounds.
McCoy, who has 203 career victories, will face Dan Yates of Hesperia. Yates decisioned Ryan Perry of Clinton in his first round match, 11-2.
Also in Division 4, Cassopolis' Corey Lowe forfeited his opening match at 140-pounds.
John Grice of Cassopolis was pinned by Richard Palmer of Carrollton in 3:13 at 285-pounds.
Zeb Hilyard decisioned Brandywine's Bryon Fisher at 103-pounds, 12-1.
Dowagiac's Nate Behnke and Drew Staley both dropped their opening round matches in Division 3.
Behnke was defeated by Steve Shields of Whitehall, 9-2, at 189-pounds.
Staley dropped a 5-0 decision to Ed Henry of Richmond at 215-pounds.
Behnke will take on Kyle March of Goodrich in the first round of consolations today. March lost to Mason Ley of Carol, 7-1.
Staley will face Adam Palleschi of Croswell-Lexington in his consolation match. Palleschi dropped a 3-2 decision to Juan Enriquez of Grant.
Buchanan's Todd Taylor, Nick Wheetley and Drew Medlin all dropped their first round matches on Thursday.
Seth Schanner of Big Rapids decisioned Taylor at 119-pounds, 9-6, while Wheetley lost by technical fall to Eric Desbrough of Dundee at 125-pounds, 21-4.
Medlin was pinned by Brandon Roose of Roscommon at 135-pounds in 3:22.
In Division 2, Niles' Jake Glueckert, Ben Brandstatter and Kenyon Elison all suffered opening round losses.
Glueckert, who wrestles at 125-pounds, was decisioned by Jackson Morse of Lowell, 6-4.
Brandstatter dropped a 6-2 decision to Steve Case of Hastings at 160-pounds, while Elison fell in overtime at 285-pounds to Christopher Reeves of Ferndale, 4-2.
Wrestling began at 8:30 this morning with the first round of consolation matches. The championship quarterfinals were scheduled to begin at 11 a.m., while the second round of consolation matches were slated for 2 p.m.
The championship semifinals will be contested tonight at 7 p.m.