Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
KENTWOOD — It was a lucky night for Jame Richardson.
In his 13th year as head coach of the Grand Haven wrestling team, Richardson will finally be taking a team to the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 team state finals at Battle Creek’s Kellogg Arena.
The Buccaneers earned their trip by beating OK Red Conference rival Rockford in the semifnals 39-27, and Caledonia in the finals 34-29.
And both times Grand Haven had to come back from large deficits to win.
“Lucky 13,” Richardson said. “But I talked to all the guys after the match, we are not done yet. We still have individual regionals, team state and individual state. We still have hills to climb, but this is great. The kids wretsled well tonight.”
Twice, senior heavyweight Ian Radde came up with huge to help his team win. His pin of Rockford’s Brent Showers seald the win over the Rams in the semifnals. And his pin of Caledonia’s Blake Gorby set up freshman 103-pounder Camden Bertucci, who pinned his opponent to give Grand Haven the trip to Battle Creek.
“This is surreal right now,” Radde said. “I can’t explain how I feel. All I knos is that all of us have worked hard for this.”
The win improves Grand Haven’s record to 21-7. The Buccaneers won’t find out who they wrestle in the quarterfinals Feb. 24 until the MHSAA seeds all four divisions and post the matchups on its website on Sunday.
Caledonia coach Shawn Veitch was happy for Richardson.
“James deserves this,” said Veitch, whose team ends its year with a 25-11 record. “I’m happy for him. I remember him from Eaton Rapids days (Richardson was a state champ and helped coach the Greyhounds) when my dad (Lakewood coach Bob Veitch) would go up against them. He deserves this.”