Kalamazoo – Jackson Blum and his Lowell teammates have larger goals than winning a Division 2 team’s fighting title each year.
But as the red arrows continue these goals, they continue to win titles.
“We want to achieve our goal, and in the end, our goal is not to win a state championship. It is to become a better person and a better wrestler, ”said Blum. “The titles of the state of the team, they can come with it, but in the end, we just want to improve as a person and as a wrestlers – so if winning a team status is A product of that is great. “
Lowell beat Fowlerville 52-14 Saturday at the Wings Event Center to capture his 12th birthdayth-The division 2 stimulant finals.
This extends not only to his MHSAA record for consecutive control titles, but is close to one more step from the record of all sports in the competition of the lower peninsula or the State – 15, established by the team swimming and diving of the Grande Rapids boys from 1948 to 1962.
A 13th title next year would link red arrows with Bloomfield Hills Brother Rice Boys Lacrosse, which accomplished this feat from 2005 to 2017.
Fowerville was the seventh program Lowell beat in the final during the sequence.
“We put God first, we do it in coaches staff, and it just gives us a goal,” said Lowell coach RJ Boudro. “We know why we do this. We don’t do that to win a state championship; We do this to be better wrestlers. We do it on the carpet, on the carpet, in class, and we are responsible for this way, and everything takes care of itself. He really doesn’t have the impression that there is pressure, because we cannot lose. We are going there and try to fight hard. If we fight our best and do everything we have trained, how can you lose? Usually, if you do all these things, we find ourselves here.
Carson Blum opened the dual with a fall at 113 pounds, fixing a familiar tone for the red arrows (30-4), which built an advance of 46-0 during the first nine games.
Brock Foster put the Gladiators (35-5) on the board of directors with a major decision at 175 pounds, but at that time, Lowell’s head was already insurmountable.
“We are used to fighting the momentum on our side, and we had no momentum,” said Fowerville coach Dan Coon. “We couldn’t get a traction. They do a good job. They work hard there, they see a difficult schedule. They did a good job.
The opening race included pins by Carter Cichocki (132) and Jackson Blum (138), followed by a chain of four consecutive technical falls by Logan Dawson (144), Trevor Boone (150), Seth Harvey (157) and Owen Segorski (165).
Jarrett Smith (120) and Cole Cichocki (126) each won by major decision during the race.
“Lots of firepower, and it is simply difficult to beat a team with so much firepower,” said Boudro. “It’s hard to really compare, but it was such a pleasant season. It is difficult to say that I never enjoyed a season more than that. It is leadership – These children love God, they love our team, they love our program, they love our community, they adhere to our fundamental values - it’s just special. “”
Casey Engle (190) and John Carter McKay (106) each won by decision for the Arrows, which are far from over, because they will send 11 boys and two girls to the next individual finals, February 28 and March 1 in Ford Field in Detroit.
Among these qualifiers are four reigning champions, including Jackson Blum who will be looking for his fourth, and Segorski who will fight for his third.
“I’m super grateful,” said Jackson Blum. “My coaches, my teammates, they have always been there for me. We are a family. Every day, I think how cool it is to be part of this program and this community. I look up in the stands and there are hundreds of people here to support us, it’s just great. “”
While Lowell moved away from Kalamazoo with a title was expected, Fowlerville racing in the final was less. The gladiators were the seeded n ° 7 and turned upside down Freeland in the quarter-final Friday before overthrowing New Boston Huron on Saturday in the semi-finals.
“We surprised a few people this weekend, so we are good,” said Coon. “I feel really good about it. It is regrettable that we had to see Lowell in the final, but there are many other teams that would have done much worse than we. I’m good with that.
Liam and Layne O’Neil provided good memories to the gladiators at the end of the match for the title, because Liam won in the fall at 285 and Layne won a major decision at 215.
Click for the summaries of division 2 of the weekend.
Photos (High) Owen Segorski of Lowell, on the right, encloses his opponent in the final of Division 2 on Saturday. (In the middle) Layne O’Neil de Fowerville, on the left, works towards a victory at 215 pounds. (Click to find out more about Lycée sports scene.)