GLADSTONE — The Gladstone wrestlers were tested but prevailed Thursday night as they captured their 13th straight Division 3 team district championship with a 37-30 triumph over the Negaunee Miners.

Gladstone reached the title round by edging Kingsford 42-36.

Kingsford won three of the four contested matches against the Braves, gaining a 24-6 lead after junior Matt Wilson pinned sophomore Gavin Depuydt 2:40 into the 285 bout.

Gladstone then took the next six weight classes by forfeit for an insurmountable 42-24 cushion.

The Flivvers took a forfeit at 160 before Gladstone senior Blake Servant pinned freshman Noah Johnson at 1:12.

Kingsford regained the lead after sophomore Josh Peterson (189) pinned Cole Potier in 2:28.

Flivvers senior Elliot Johnson (215) then recorded a pin over senior Peter Noblet at 3:51 for an 18-6 cushion.

“That was awesome,” said Kingsford coach Darren Groleau. “I know Gladstone had some guys out, but with them out we knew we had a chance. Potier vs. Peterson was the match I wanted. Noah wrestled for the first time at 171, and we moved Josh up to 189. When Josh got that pin it got the other guys excited and gave us some momentum. We may have lost the match, but I don’t take this as a loss at all. I felt we finished on a high note. No doubt, we pulled some upsets. Our guys got the job done.”

The victory over Negaunee sends the Braves to the regional team tournament March 24 at Hart where they’ll face Boyne City in their opener. Hart hosts Kingsley in the other semifinal.

The Braves mathematically secured the title after junior Hunter Solis pinned Negaunee freshman Wyatt Lauer 64 seconds into the 130-pound match for a 37-6 advantage.

“We knew it’d be a tight match with Negaunee,” said Braves coach Jeff Brazeau. “It could have gone either way. Kingsford pushed us, and we came back out with a lot of fire.”

Noblet, wrestling at 285, used a late reversal to secure a 5-1 victory over senior Bryce Dunstan to put Gladstone up 13-6 against Negaunee.

“That was a tough match,” said Noblet. “I’m a smaller guy but have a little more speed and quickness.”

Negaunee defeated Menominee 37-15 in its opener.

All four teams will be in Grayling for today’s individual district.

Gladstone 42, Kingsford 36

160 — Bird, K, forfeit

171 — Servant, G, pinned N. Johnson, 1:12

189 — Peterson, K, pinned Potier, 2:28

215 — E. Johnson, K, pinned Noblet, 3:51

285 — Wilson, K, pinned Depuydt, 2:40

103 — Terrien, G, forfeit

112 — Hansen, G, forfeit

125 — A. Solis, G, forfeit

130 — H. Solis, G, forfeit

135 — Cox, G, forfeit

140 — Detiege, G, forfeit

145 — Wilcox, K, forfeit

152 — Maki, K, forfeit

Gladstone 37, Negaunee 30

171 — Helppi, N, forfeit

189 — Servant, G, dec. Keough, 11-2

215 — Potier, G, pinned VanBuren, 1:50

285 — Noblet, G, dec. Dunstan, 5-1

103 — Terrien, G, forfeit

112 — Hansen, G, forfeit

125 — A. Solis, G, forfeit

130 — H. Solis, G, pinned Lauer, 1:04

135 — J. McCollum, N, pinned Cox, 2:50

140 — Schouten, N, forfeit

145 — Prusi, N, pinned Detiege, 1:31

152 — Reno, N, forfeit

MANISTIQUE — In a Division 4 team district meet Thursday, Iron Mountain defeated Newberry 66-12 and then fell to Bark River-Harris 40-34.

“We had some exciting matches that could have gone either way, so it made for an exciting dual with Bark River,” said Iron Mountain coach Cory McLaren.

“In the beginning of the season we lost to Bark River 24-60 and then a few weeks later lost to them again 32-46. We have made improvements each time and we came close. Everyone on this team fought hard and showed a lot of character on the mat.”

Iron Mountain finished the team season 19-6. The individual postseason starts today at Westwood.