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THREE RIVERS — The Edwardsburg and Niles wrestling teams found out Wednesday why host and state-ranked Three Rivers is still unbeaten and a favorite to capture next month’s Wolverine Conference title.

Three Rivers, ranked No. 6 this week in Division 2 by Michigan Grappler.com, overwhelmed Niles 63-15 and Edwardsburg 72-6 to remain unbeaten in the league at 4-0 and 11-0 overall. 

Edwardsburg won its opening match 48-21 over Sturgis and finished 1-1 on the night. Niles fell to Sturgis 48-33. 

Veteran Edwardsburg coach Jessie Becraft is still trying to find a more permanent and stable lineup as mid-January nears. The Eddies recently got a boost with the return of Carson Eaton and the Lungren brothers Brayden and Brandon from early-season injuries.

“We’ve made some progress, but we have some young kids in our lineup and are still trying to figure a lot of things out,” Becraft said. We have to keep working hard, get tougher and continue building pride in ourselves. That’s what our program has always been about.”

Becraft pointed out the performance of Braden Lundgren at 144 pounds. 

“Brayden wrestled his butt off and lost a tough one to his Three Rivers kid,” he said. “He can take some things away from that match that will help him down the road.”

Braden lost by pin in 0:28 to Bryce Brookens of Three Rivers after beating Sturgis Jaydon Reyes by pin in 0:40 in his opening match. 

In the 150-pound division, Edwardsburg’s Hudson Fields pinned Sturgis’ Juan Soto in 0:33 before losing a tough 4-3 decision to Evan Harper from Three Rivers.

Aiden Gille (157) from Edwardsburg beat Angel Alvarez from Sturgis 8-3 before losing by in in 3:52 to Landon Moreland of Three Rivers. 

Gage Wright (165) of Edwardsburg pinned Aaron Castro from Sturgis in 0:54 before losing by 1:20 pin fall to Louis Smith from Three Rivers. 

Eaton (175) from Edwardsburg pinned Sturgis’ Wyatt Myers in 0:59 before losing to Three Rivers’ Jeremiah Detwiler by pin in 1:53.  

At 190, Edwardsburg’s Gabe Smith won 6-4 over Sturgis’ Alex Valdez before losing to Jaxon Smith of Three Rivers by pin in 0:37. 

In the 215 division, Edwardsburg’s Brandon Lundgren won by void against Sturgis. Brandon lost by pin in 3:36 to Joe Anglemyer from Three Rivers. 

At 275, Edwardsburg’s Dru Ferrill pinned Edward Garcia from Sturgis in 0:10. Ferrill lost by pin against Sam Reynolds of Three Rivers in 5:43. 

Edwardsburg’s Annika Vanburen (106) was pinned by Sturgis Easton Barkby in 0:20 and Three Rivers’ Brody Morrill in 0:30.

Edwardsburg’s Brady Halfman (113) beat Joshua Galvan of Sturgis 5-2. Halfman lost to Kale Parr from Three Rivers by pin in 3:08. 

At 120, Edwardsburg forfeited to Sturgis’ Lola Barkby and Jak Monroe of Three Rivers. 

In the 126-pound class, Edwardsburg’s Caden Manfred earned a 5-0 win over Jacob Lewis from Sturgis. Manfred lost 6-2 against Eathan Moreland of Three Rivers. 

Tavrin Zippleman (132) from Edwardsburg pinned Kaidon Waldron of Sturgis in 1:04. Zippleman was pinned in 4:48 by Ayden Keller from Three Rivers. 

Keegan Parsons (138) from Edwardsburg pinned Diego Munoz of Sturgis in 0:42. Parsons was pinned in 2:26 by Carter Hensley of Three Rivers. 

A lack of depth in Niles’ lineup continues from be a big problem for the Vikings. 

“It’s tough for a young team like we have, especially when you are giving up four voids every match. It’s going to be a learning year, but these kids have definitely improved since the beginning of the season,” said head coach Mason Stephenson

Sturgis’ Galvan (113), Lewis (126), Alvarez (157), Myers (165) and Lola Barkby (120) all won by forfeit against Niles. 

Nathan Smith (132) from Niles lost 5-0 to Waldron. Against Three Rivers, Brock Clendenin from Niles was pinned in 3:33 by Keller. 

Trenton Albright (138) of Niles was pinned in 1:38 by Hensley. Albright beat Diego Munoz of Sturgis 3-0. 

Niles’ Braden Lundgren  was 2-0 with a pair of pins, while brother Brandon Lundgren went 1-1.

Toney Boyne (150) from Niles was pinned in 3:21 by Harper of Three Rivers. Boyne beat Juan Soto from Sturgis 12-5.

Niles also forfeited to Three Rivers’ Landon Moreland (157), Louie Smith (165), Monroe (120)

Sam Rucker (175) from Niles won in overtime against Detwiler of Three Rivers. Max Rucker lost to Aaron Castro from Sturgis 8-1.

Julian Means-Flewellen (190) of Niles lost a heartbreaking 7-5 overtime decision to Jaxon Smith from Three Rivers 7-5. Flewellen won by void against Sturgis.

Hunter Stough (215) from Niles was pinned in 1:08 by Three Rivers’ Reynolds and fell by decision to Sturgis’ Alex Valdez.

Chase Brawley (285) from Niles won by pin in 0:26 over Anglemyer. Trent Scott of Niles lost by close decision to Sturgis’ Edwin Garcia.

Connor Craw (106) from Niles lost by pin in 2:39 to Three Rivers’ Morrill. Korbin Hughes (106) of Niles pinned Sturgis’ Cooper. No pin fall time was available. 

Hughes (113) was pinned in 0:30 by Parr from Three Rivers.