Senior and team captain Lyrik Ricketts highlighted the team’s overall growth this season, noting an improvement in both mindset and performance.

“The team has grown drastically over the season, whether it is our wrestling or our mindset,” Ricketts said. “We’ve pulled it together more since the start of the season, whether it’s wrestling in good position more or getting through adversity on and off the mat to stay consistent. It’s an improvement, but, even with that, there are still a lot of things the team is going to need to work on. I have faith they are going to be able to rise past that in the next coming years.”

Ricketts himself had one of the team’s top finishes, placing second at 175 pounds. After winning his semifinal match by fall over Maximillian Vaughan, of Traverse City West, he faced Gage Warren, of Traverse City Central, in the championship match. Warren secured the victory by technical fall.

Another standout for Alpena was Brody Oliver, at 157 pounds.

News Photo by Leslianne Johns Alpena High School’s Matthew Spencer, right, squares off against an opponent from Traverse City Central during the Big North Conference Championships on Saturday at Alpena High.

Oliver advanced to the finals after a decisive 7-0 victory over Cadillac’s Davin Shively in the semifinals. In the championship match, he was pinned by Gaylord’s Blake Davis, but showed resilience throughout the tournament, earning second place and 14 team points.

Ricketts praised Oliver’s development this season.

“He was in the finals match with a chance at first place,” Ricketts said. “Even though he got pinned against a tough opponent, it was still good to see him in the finals, with major improvements throughout the season. He wrestled in good position and didn’t force things as much, keeping things tighter. He did really well and is showing promise to be a high-level competitor in the coming years.”

In addition to the two finalists, Alpena had several wrestlers competing for third place.

At 285 pounds, Colt Walter placed third with a strong finish, pinning Sawyer Caldwell-Poertner, of Traverse City West, in the third-place match. Walter’s performance contributed 14 points to the team’s overall total.

Jonathon Parris, wrestling at 120 pounds, placed third and added seven team points. His bracket had several byes, allowing him to advance through the rounds.

John Dargis, at 215 pounds, Cayden Smith, at 138 pounds, and Matthew Spencer, at 144 pounds, each placed fourth.

Dargis opened his tournament with a pin over Petoskey’s Gavin Garrison, but fell in the semifinals and third-place match.

Smith and Spencer both had key wins in the consolation bracket before falling in their respective third-place matches.

Matthew Kowalski, at 132 pounds, and Cruz Guthrie, at 150 pounds, also competed, but did not place.

Kowalski won his quarterfinal match by fall before dropping his next two bouts, while Guthrie faced tough competition in his weight class.