Growing pains will come in matches this year for the Niles wrestling team.

There were more positives than negatives for the Vikings in their Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference matches Wednesday against Portage Northern and Portage Central.

Pins late helped the Vikings beat the Huskies, 45-21, while Niles was in control throughout in a 58-12 victory over the Mustangs.

“We’re young, rough and raw,” said Niles wrestling coach Todd Hesson, who has led his program to three straight Division 2 state semifinal appearances. “We’ve got a long ways to go. At times we look good and other times we don’t.
“It’s nice to get a couple wins at home. We continue to have a little bit of success in the conference.”

Niles had its hands full to start the evening against Portage Northern. Pins in the final three matches by Mitchell Findeisen (140), Courtland Lamberton (145) and Quentin Smith (152) helped the Vikings pull away.

In the win over Portage Central, the Vikings got pins from Dayton Smith (171), Cody Glick (189), Cade Stephenson (112), Andrew Flick (119), Brenden Hall (130), Lamberton and Smith.

“We go to Penn on Saturday and we’ll have a rough day there,” Hesson said. But it’s still December. We’re looking down the road to February and March. Hopefully, these matches will help us grow a little bit.”

NILES 45, PORTAGE NORTHERN 21

At Niles
160: Davin Simpson (N) p. Tristen Elder, 5:24; 171: Cam Pietrzykowski (P) d. Dayton Smith, 5-0; 189: Cody Glick d. Jordan Hines, 3-2; 215: Braulio Sosa d. Ben Mandoux, 8-5; 285: Evan Andrews (P) p. Jonathon Castleman, 2:39; 103: Dominique Maestas (P) p. Nathan Frary, 2:35; 112: Cade Stephenson (N) m.d. Evansky Kras, 12-4; 119: Andrew Flick (N) t.f. Caleb Riggs, 16-1; 125: Reese Gardner (N) won by forfeit; 130: Nolan Smith (P) d. Brenden Hall, 5-2; 135: Carter Gentry (P) d. Cole Simpson, 9-7; 140: Mitchell Findeisen (N) p. Mitchell Derhammer, 2:59; 145: Courtland Lamberton (N) p. Keegan Russell, 1:26; 152: Quentin Smith (N) d. Glacio Neto, :15.

 

NILES 58, PORTAGE CENTRAL 12
171: Dayton Smith (N) p. Zach Griffin, 1:13; 189: Cody Glick (N) p. Tyler Hughes, 1:11; 215: Dominic Wilson (P) d. Braulio Sosa, 5-4; 285: double void; 103: Nathan Frary (N) won by forfeit; 112: Cade Stephenson (N) p. Drew Fuller, :51; 119: Andrew Flick (N) p. Brad McNamara, :22; 125: Garrett Stace (P) p. Reese Gardner, 3:00; 130: Brenden Hall (N) p. Drew Garetzka, :38; 135: Cole Simpson (N) m.d. Aiden Fatis, 13-5; 140: Dante Cataro (P) d. Mitchell Findeisen, 5-2; 145: Courtland Lamberton (N) p. Roman Zairekanski, 1:46; 152: Quentin Smith (N) p. Hayden Bernadine, :20; 160: Davin Simpson (N) won by forfeit.