The champion was easy to find, but there was a wild scramble for the rest of the glory at the Jack Pine Conference wrestling league meet at Meridian.
Roscommon rolled through the dual meet season with a 7-0 record and kept the pain coming at the tournament, placing first with 87 points to wrap up the outright crown.
Meridian was second in the standings with a 4-2 mark, but placed fifth at the tournament with 38 points and wound up fourth overall.
Beaverton, Gladwin and Farwell all went 3-3 in duals to finish tied for third. At the league meet, the Beavers separated themselves from that pack by placing third with 42 points to finish second overall. Farwell was fourth with 39 and ended up tied with Meridian in the final standings, while Gladwin was sixth with 30 and fell to sixth overall.
Clare, meanwhile, was just 2-4 in duals, but leapt into second place at the tournament with 53 points to claim a share of second place in the final standings with Beaverton.
Houghton Lake had a tough season and finished seventh with a 0-7 mark and 16 points at the league meet.
Clare’s Amante Young was the champion at 103 after pinning second-place Brandon Spencer of Roscommon. Gladwin’s Colton Kanyo finished third.
The Pioneers grabbed gold again at 112. Kyle Schaaf beat Houghton Lake’s David Johnson 3-0 to leave Johnson in second place and William Dominsek was third for Roscomon.
The Bucks were best at 119 as Ethan Noryeko pinned four foes for the crown. Devin Shaloy was second for Houghton Lake and Meridian’s Tyler Brinley was third.
Roscommon ruled again at 125. Danny Rowe pinned Farwell’s Clay Forfonski in the key match. Forfonski was second and Gladwin’s Bryce Bartles took third.
The hosting Mustangs were in the winner’s circle at 130, where Cole Federer pinned Roscommon’s Tyler Hatfield in the battle for first and second. Farwell’s Chandler Skornicka was third.
Roscommon’s Gage Major won the gold medal at 135. Kyle Cassiday was second for Beaverton after a 2-0 loss to Major. Austin Sandel was third for Farwell.
Farwell’s Brendan Smith won five matches with four pins and placed first at 140. Beaverton’s Wade Muma was second after losing a major decision to Smith. Brandon Avery was third for Meridian.
Clare’s Isaiah Dole was first with Gladwin’s Austin Palmateer second at 145. Dole took a tough 5-3 decision over Palmateer for the crown. Justin Norburg was third for Farwell.
Meridian’s Matt Hoffman beat Roscommon’s Doug Fishell 6-2 in the battle for first and second at 152. Beaverton’s Jack Owens was third.
Farwell’s Garrett McQuiston came out on top of a competitive field at 160 with five pins and was named the meet’s Most Valuable Wrestler. Roscommon’s Donald Jernigan was second and Armando Vanderbrook third for Clare.
Gladwin’s only champion of the day was Owen Ritchie, who was tops at 171. Hart Smalley of Clare was second after losing a tough 2-1 decision to Ritchie. Paul Streeter was third for Meridian.
Beaverton’s lone gold medalist was Eric Cassiday, who won five bouts with three pins to take first at 189. Roscommon’s Logan DuVall was second after falling to Cassiday 5-1 in the main event. Gladwin’s Leroy Bouck was third.
Clare’s Keegan Billerbeck was the big winner at 215. He pinned second-place Gabe Stern of Roscommon in the pivotal match. Beaverton’s Luke Owens placed third.
The heavyweight champeen was Roscommon’s Tommy Tiepel, who had four pins and a 9-6 decision over Beaverton’s Wade Sturgeon, who wound up second. Mason Schultz was third for Meridian.