DOWAGIAC — Seniors Kody Walker and Justin Lyle will begin their quest for an individual state wrestling championship at Ford Field in Detroit today.

Walker, a regional champion at 119 pounds, will face West Branch-Ogemaw Height’s Zea Kartes (38-10) in the opening round match. Walker is 46-6 on the season.

The winner will advance to face either Anderson Strunk (23-3) of Algonac of Dametrius Castillo (34-4) of Alma in the championship quarterfinals.

“I think Kody’s draw is pretty good,” Dowagiac coach Colin Burandt said. “Looking at it, he obviously will still have to wrestle, but if he wins his first match we will go from there and see what he can do.”

Lyle, who is 41-12 on the year, finished fourth at the Division 3 regional last weekend.

He will be wrestling Brockton Cook (37-9) from Birch Run. Cook is a regional champion at 189 pounds.

The winner will wrestle either Elijah Stevenson (28-12) from Lansing Sexton or Chayton Wiggins (38-8) from Remus Chippewa Hills in the quarterfinals.

“We do not know much about a lot of the 189 pounders,” Burandt said. “You cannot argue with the draw because it is done based on where you finished at regionals.”

Burandt does not feel that either athlete will be affected by the surroundings of wrestling at Ford Field.

“Kody has been there for two years and placed last year, so I do not think the big stage will hurt him,” he said. “Justin is just a well-rounded kid and I do not think it will really phase him. They just have to remember they will not be wrestling anyone any tougher than we have already seen.”

Seven Niles wrestlers and one Brandywine freshman will be trying to win individual state championships at Ford Field in Detroit this weekend.

The Vikings’ Jamison Zimmerman (103), Austin Franco (119), Robert Glover (145), Davin Simpson (171), Dayton Smith (171), Dawson Bruckner (189) and Brian Soto (285) will be in competition in Division 2.

Brandywine’s Hunter Heath will compete at 112 pounds in Division 3.

Niles’ Zimmerman (33-11) will face Corbin Hallberg (45-4) of Ortonville-Brandon in the opening round.

Franco (40-0) is the top seed at 119 and will wrestle Nick May (32-13) of Kenowa Hills in the first round.

Glover (31-7) will square off against Justin Chambless (43-7) of Carlton-Airport in the first round.

Simpson (27-9) will face Gerrit Andrus (41-14) of Reeths-Puffer in the first round at 171, while Smith (35-9) will wrestle Plainwell’s Clayton Tucker (46-8). The two Niles wrestlers are in opposite halves of the bracket.

Bruckner (32-11) will take on No. 2-seeded Donovan Pitts-Reed (41-7) of Fernville in his opening match.

Soto (29-11) will meet Samuel Johnson (45-6) of Carlton-Airport in the first round.

“I haven’t looked at the pairings,” said Niles coach Todd Hesson. “I think all of them who advanced have a solid chance to place.”

In Division 3, Heath (40-4) will open up against Gabe Fielder (28-12) from Durand.

“Since I have been at Brandywine we have never had a freshman win a regional,” said veteran Bobcats coach Rex Pomranka. “I do not believe there has ever been a freshman that has won regionals. That is an accomplishment right there. We are the No. 4-ranked guy in the state at 112. Not happy about that, but it means that the No. 2-ranked guy is in the bottom half of the bracket.”

Round 1 begins at noon today with the first round of consolation slated to begin at 3 p.m. The championship quarterfinals are set for 4:30 p.m. with the championship semifinals scheduled for 7:30 p.m.