GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) -- Ottawa Hills and Union High School wrestlers delivered strong performances at their respective conference championships, highlighted by multiple podium finishes from both programs. The boys individual conference championships were contested on February 6 while the girls took the mat on February 7.
At the OK White Individual Conference Championships at Forest Hills Northern, Ottawa Hills had three athletes place, including two conference champions. Jameer Runyon (138 lbs) captured first place after entering as the number two seed. Runyon received a quarterfinal bye, advanced by pin in the semifinals against Grand Rapids Christian, then sealed the championship with a lightning-fast takedown and pin in just 26 seconds against the number one seed from Forest Hills Eastern.
Top-seeded Nicholas Ladomato-Fisher (215 lbs) also claimed first place, pinning his way through the bracket. He recorded first period falls in both the semifinal (over Forest Hills Central) and the final (over Catholic Central), never allowing a match to go past the opening period. Corey Jones (132 lbs) added a fourth-place finish for Ottawa Hills.
Ottawa Hills also produced a female placer at the OK Girls Conference Finals, as Akeelah Howard (110 lbs) finished third. Howard exceeded expectations after entering the tournament as the fifth seed.
Union competed at the OK Gold Individual Conference Championships at Thornapple Kellogg, placing five wrestlers. Wadaase McSauby (215 lbs) led the way with a second-place finish. After a quarterfinal bye, McSauby defeated a Northview wrestler by decision in the semifinals before dropping a hard-fought final in the third period.
Union also earned fourth place finishes from Giancarlo Ruiz-Brinceno (120 lbs), Christopher Rogers (157 lbs), Iohan Sanchez (175 lbs), and Christopher Mazariegos (190 lbs).
Additionally, Union’s girls added to the program’s strong showing at the OK Girls Conference Finals. Jasmin Galvan-Flores (130 lbs) placed second after entering as the third seed. She received a first-round bye, pinned her opponents in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, and then fell by decision in a full six-minute championship match.
Strong performances across the boys and girls divisions capped a successful conference championship stretch for both programs as they now turn their focus toward districts.
