Climax-Scotts/Martin loses in quarterfinals; vows to return to states next year

KALAMAZOO - The Climax-Scotts/Martin co-op wrestling team wanted another shot at competing in the state finals at Wings Stadium.

The program got its wish, but still came up just a bit short of its ultimate goal of a run to the state championship round.

Climax-Scotts/Martin lost to No. 2-ranked St. Louis, 39-26, in the Division 4 state quarterfinals on Friday at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo as part of the early action at the MHSAA state team wrestling finals. St. Louis advances to see Benzie Central in the state semifinals on Saturday. In the other side of the bracket, No. 5 Manchester defeated No. 4 Bronson, 30-22, and No. 1 Hudson beat Saginaw Lutheran Seminary, 72-3.

It is the second straight season No. 8-ranked Climax-Scotts/Martin has advanced to the state team wrestling finals at Wings Stadium, earning an upset win in the quarterfinals a year ago. This time around, C-S/Martin ran into a deep St. Louis team and saw its dream run end early.

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"It's been such a great experience coming back, we proved all season that we deserved to be here. We just didn't capitalize on our opportunity today," Climax-Scotts/Martin junior Jackson Bagwell said. "They are a tough team. We needed some upsets to go our way, but that didn't happen and that's just the way it goes sometimes."

This co-op team features a heavy dose of Climax-Scotts wrestlers, including eight starters: Logan Gilbert (106 pounds), Kristian Heighton (113), Cole Reitz (120), Jackson Bagwell (150), Joshua Walman (165), Malcolm Smith (175), Sam Bleeker (215) and Max Bleeker (285).

Among that group, Gilbert, Reitz and Bagwell came up with wins by decision on the mat. Also getting victories for C-S/Martin included Haylen Buell (138), as well as Walman and Smith earning points by forfeit at the end of the dual when St. Louis had the win clinched.

Those wins and points weren't enough to dig Climax-Scotts/Martin out of an early hole when St. Louis won the first three matches, as the dual started at 190 pounds.

"Hard to start with a couple losses and get that turned around. It was hard to battle back from that," said Climax-Scotts/Martin coach Mike Reitz.

The loss didn't take away from the milestone experience of getting to Wings Stadium to compete on the big stage.

"There have been a lot of classes, that went through this co-op, that never had this opportunity to be here," Reitz said. "There have been a lot of years that we didn't get this far. This group, especially these underclassmen, that weren't in the lineup today, but got to see it and be apart of this, this was huge."

The Climax-Scotts/Martin co-op only includes a handful of seniors on the entire roster and features six wrestlers who have qualified for the individual state meet this year as underclassmen. With that group returning, Climax-Scotts/Martin expects to be right back at Wings Stadium a year from now for a third straight trip.

"You look at the guys we have that are juniors, who are going to be seniors next year, it's looking like the best team that we are going to ever have since we started this co-op," Reitz said. "We have a great opportunity of getting back here next year. But there has to be some dedication to work hard if we want it.

"We have been here back-to-back. But we showed today, the work is not done. It's not enough just to get here. We want more than that and we have to work hard to get that done."

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Climax-Scotts/Martin falls in Division 4 state wrestling quarterfinals