Dogs split weekend duals against state ranked teams

Jackson Renicker working for the major against Temperance Bedford

The #6 Bulldogs capped off a tough 10 day stretch this weekend with a pair of big time duals against two of Division 1’s most tradition rich programs in #3 Detroit Catholic Central and #7 Temperance Bedford.

Friday night the Black and Orange hosted the 3rd ranked Shamrocks in a spotlight dual on Youth Wrestling Night.  Brighton fell 37-16 winning 5 matches.

The crowd was electric with over 150 BHS students in attendance in addition to Brighton WC members and coach and the Varsity Cheer Team.  The Dogs started strong, winning 3 of the first 4 matches, but failed to maintain the momentum and dropped 8 of the last 10 bouts.

Luke Ready scored a major decision over #8 Jack Ross at 215lbs and Eric Conquest won an overtime thriller at 285lbs over #5 Nick Jenkins.  Victor Grabowski made it three straight wins over ranked foes when he knocked off #10 Rhett Newton at 103lbs.

The Shamrocks were able to hold the Dogs off the rest of the way, winning 8 of the final 10 as Grant Morrison (135) and Lee Grabowski (140) were the only other Bulldogs to win.  Morrison knocked off #10 Aaron Rehfeldt at 135lbs.

Ready scores the takedown against DCC

“The crowd was amazing, it was great to see the student body and community come out to support wrestling,” said Coach Tony Greathouse, “We obviously would have liked to get the win, but when you wrestle the best teams in the state, you put yourself out there, and your weaknesses and flaws get exposed.  But thats OK, this is how we learn about ourselves and learn what we need to do in order to be where we need to be in the middle of February to make a run at the State Tournament.”

The Dogs rebounded on Sunday afternoon in a featured dual meet against #7 Temperance Bedford at Eastern Michigan University’s Convocation Center.  The Brighton vs Bedford Dual was a preliminary bout before the Eagles took on Kent State in a MAC Conference Dual.

Grant Morrison got the Dogs off to a good start with a major decision at 140lbs, but the Mules jumped to a 22-4 lead scoring pins at 145 and 152, followed by a void at 160 and a major decision at 171lbs.

Senior CJ Kiesgen got the momentum back with a 3-2 win at 189lbs and then seniors Eric Conquest and Luke Ready scored back to back decisions at 215 and 285lbs.  Ready scored his 2nd straight win over ranked opponent, winning 4-1 over #6 Tim Stevens.

Freshmen Ben Manly (103) and Victor Grabowski (112), along with Seth Soto (119) put the Dogs ahead for good with three straight pins.

Jackson Renicker kept the ball rolling at 125lbs with a major deicison and Nick Seguin followed with a thrilling come from behind win at 130lbs in which he scored 7 unanswered points in the 3rd period to win 13-12.

“Sunday was a great rebound from a very emotional, intense loss on Friday night,” said Greathouse. “We continue to get better each week and this week was no different, we are making a lot of good individual adjustments and our overall pace and ability and to compete continues to improve.  We have some areas to improve on, but I am very proud of the way these guys have held it together and grown through these very tough events we have had on our schedule the last three weeks.”

The Dogs have wrestled 6 state ranked opponents in the last 10 days, going 4-2 against those ranked squads.  Varsity returns to action Wednesday night against Howell and Grand Blanc at Hartland.