Banged-up Demons missing seven starters
By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
Any chance for a team championship was nonexistent going into Saturday’s Freedom Invite.
The Burlington varsity wrestling squad has seven starters out with injury and could only compete with seven healthy wrestlers at the annual tournament.
The numbers game didn’t seem to bother seniors Josh Bird and Hegeman Tiedt.
Bird at 138 and Tiedt, who dropped down from heavyweight to 220 for the tournament, both won first place and continued their season-long dominance.
Bird, a two-time state champion, improved to 29-0 with a pin fall, decision and major decision over Bay Port’s Brady Shulfer in the title match.
Tiedt is now 26-3 after two major decisions and an 8-1 decision. Tiedt outscored his opponents 26-1 on the day.
“Josh and Hegeman dominated all day,” said head coach Jade Gribble. “Josh beat two ranked opponents and controlled both matches the entire time. Hegeman wrestled at 220 because that bracket was tougher, and at this point in the season Hegeman is trying to get as many good matches as possible.”
Gribble said the seven competitors were wrestling “for themselves” since half the team was missing.
Ben Travis (132), Connor Shimek (145), Thomas Petrick (152), Lance Otter (160) and Louie Hardesty (170) were the other wrestlers for Burlington.
Otter finished the day 2-2, and Travis and Petrick each picked up a victory.
Free T-shirts at Thursday’s meet
Burlington will host rival Waterford Thursday night at Burlington High School, and Gribble said the team will be giving away 600 Demon Wrestling T-shirts.
So come on out and get a free shirt.
“It is a great night, and it will be a good crowd with Waterford coming to Burlington,” Gribble said.
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