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Wrestling: Bolo repeats as UP champion

Kingsford’s Povolo also wins UP title

Iron Mountain seniors Aaron Bolo (left) and Braydon Fitzpatrick won wrestling titles Saturday in the U.P. Championships. (Submitted Photo)

MARQUETTE — Iron Mountain’s Aaron Bolo (189) and Braydon Fitzpatrick (215) along with Kingsford’s Trevor Povolo (145) earned top honors Saturday at the U.P. Championships at Marquette High School.

Bolo (27-0 record) repeated as U.P. champion, beating Kevin Roberts of Gwinn on a technical fall. Bolo pinned Doby Gillis of Gladstone and beat Adam Lajoie of Sault Ste. Marie to reach the finals.

“Aaron is wrestling at a high level and continues to do it,” said Mountaineers coach Brandon Rutter.

Fitzpatrick (26-3) pinned Jared Demeuse of Gladstone in the third period for his first U.P. title. They had split two other matches this season.

“Braydon was ready for this one,” Rutter said. “This was a good match.”

Fitzpatrick was fifth, third and second in previous U.P. tournaments.

The Mountaineers added a second from Dylan Hoffart (125), falling to Escanaba’s Hunter Larson 5-2.

“It came down to the third period,” Rutter said. “Dylan wrestled real well.”

Mountaineers also had Joe Comstick (171) place third and Jacob Carlson (135) fifth.

“I was glad to see Joe on the podium,” Rutter said.

Trevor Povolo (23-3) decisioned Devon Bournonville of Menominee 7-2 for the title.

Jonathan Schmutzler (152) was runner-up, bowing to Gladstone’s Alex Chouinard 8-3.

The Flivvers also had a third from August Early (103) and fifth from Ethan Wilcox (119).

“We had a pretty good day,” said Kingsford coach Darren Groleau. “Trevor was aggressive and took it to Bournonville. Jonathan wrestled a tough match. It was a lot closer than the score indicated.”

Gladstone was the team champion with 250.5 points. Iron Mountain finished fourth with 110.5 and Kingsford placed ninth with 78.

Officials believed it was the biggest margin of victory in U.P. high school wrestling history.

Gladstone head coach Dan Seronko was proud of his team’s accomplishments.

“I was exceptionally happy with our kids,” Seronko said. “They wrestled hard, but they’re a young crew and wrestled like veterans. I’m always more about performance over wins, but my guys were above and beyond.”

The Braves had five wrestlers win their weight classes, including Vadym Torvinen at 119 pounds, Cole Hansen at 130, Adam Brue at 135, Alex Chouinard at 152 and Austin DeMeuse at 171.

Former Norway High School wrestler Tanner Gonzalez of Manistique beat Beau Caster of Marquette in overtime for the 160-pound title.

The Mountaineers wrestle Tuesday at Negaunee while the Flivvers wrestle Wednesday at Ishpeming.

Team standings:

1. Gladstone 250.5; 2. Marquette 156.5; 3. Westwood 148.5; 4. Iron Mountain 110.5; 5. Menominee 106; 6. Escanaba 89; 7. Newberry 88; 8. Munising 86, 9. Kingsford 78; 10. Sault Area 71.5; 11. Manistique 62.5; 12. Gwinn 53; 13. St. Ignace 45; 14. Negaunee 40; 15. Bark River-Harris 36; 16. Rudyard 33; 17. Ishpeming 28; 18. Detour  2.

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