DOWAGIAC — The Dowagiac Youth Wrestling Club hosted its second annual tournament at the Dowagiac Middle School Feb. 25.

The “Rumble in the Jack” was attended by 377 wrestlers from 43 teams. The Dowagiac youth club had 28 wrestlers to compete in the home tournament. 

Dowagiac is part of the Michigan Youth Wrestling Association (MYWAY) in the southwest region. Michigan has eight regions. MYWAY is part of the national organization NUWAY.

Wrestlers ages 4 to 14 compete in two sessions at each tournament with the morning being the youngest wrestlers and the older group competing in the afternoon. 

Dowagiac as a team had the most total pins (49) in the shortest amount of time of all the 43 teams. 

The morning and afternoon sessions opened with the Michigan Army National Guard Charlie Company bringing in the United States of America and Michigan flags for the national anthem.  Charlie Company calls the Dowagiac armory home and has helped support this year’s wrestling program. 

Dowagiac was represented well on the medal stand placing 21 wrestlers in the top four.  Dowagiac’s champions were Carson White, Oliver Olmedo, Brody Brewer, Alan Wegner, Roman Paredes, Rowan Bradford, Gavin Schoff and Taven Livingston.

Dowagiac had two runners-up, Jacob Villegas and Kaiden Reith. Placing third were Rooney Olmedo, Cameron White, AJ Munson, Cody White, Jesse Szymonski, Israel Villegas, Cal Chapman and Jackson Starnes. 

Earning a fourth-place medal were Brody Lvingston, Skyler Vincek and Hunter Ottinger. 

Hosting a tournament this size takes a huge amount of support. 

The Dowagiac Youth Wrestling Club was supported by Zeke’s restaurant, Casual T’s, L.A.D.D., Dowagiac Armory Michigan Army National Guard, Mahar Insurance, The Baker’s Rhapsody, Lindy’s Restaurant, Family Fare, Wood Fire Restaurant, Guardianship and Alternative, Inc, Saylor’s Front Street Pizzeria, Round Oak Revisited, The Manor Mini-Mart, Beeson Street Bar & Grill, The Wounded Minnow Saloon, Adaptable Transportation, Hannapel Home Center Dowagiac, Caruso’s Candy & Soda Shop, Linda Roberts, Charles and Virginia Collett. 

Coaches want to thank the all the parents and community supporters including the Dowagiac school district for working so well with the youth program. The tournament was organized by Dowagiac Club Director Tony Munson. 

The Dowagiac Youth Wrestling Club had 41 wrestlers sign up for this season. There have been 12 southwest regional tournaments so far this season.

The MYWAY Southwest Regional was held this past weekend at Battle Creek Lakeview. 

The MYWAY State Championships tournament will be hosted March 23-25 at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo.