The drama Wednesday didn’t take long to unfold with the match against Bark River-Harris going down to the final match.

The Mountaineers’ Shayna Hruska (103) pinned the Broncos’ Allison Kleiman to bring Iron Mountain to within one point 36-35.

“To have a chance to win, we needed Alex Wilson (112) to not get pinned or lose by technical fall to have a chance,” said Iron Mountain coach Cory McLaren. “Alex faced Avery Corrigan, who is a three-time state-qualifier and had pinned Alex in the last two matches they faced each other.

“The match was close the whole time and very exciting, Alex scored a takedown in the finals seconds to send it into overtime,” McLaren added.

Iron Mountain High School senior wrestler Parker Stroud against Bark River-Harris’ Guerin Deforest during the Division IV, Region 125 tournament in Charlevoix on Feb. 16. (Courtesy photo)

The Bark River-Harris grappler did indeed win the match in overtime but Wilson’s effort and ability to extend the match kept the Mountaineers’ hope of a regional title alive with one match left to go. All they needed was a win by 119-pound standout Shawn McGuire. And Iron Mountain got just that, with McGuire sealing the 41-39 victory with a pin.

That left the tournament’s host team as the last hurdle to a trip to the state finals.

“Against Charlevoix in the finals, we carried the momentum from the Bark River-Harris match and won nine matches out of 14,” McLaren said.

The nine match wins provided for a 53-28 victory over the Rayders, with pins Isaac Manier (140), Evan Haferkorn (145), Mason Kivi (152), Parker Stroud (160), Fulton Stroud (171), McGuire and Tyler Winch (125) helping secured the win.

“It’s been 11 years since we have brought home a regional trophy,” McLaren added. “Unfortunately, we don’t have the numbers for a full team due to injuries but this is a very talented group of wrestlers that gets to wrestle one more time as a team.”

The Division IV state finals will kick off with the quarterfinal round on Feb. 25, with the semifinals and championship round on Feb. 26. Seeding for the tournament is slated for Sunday at noon.

Dennis Mansfield can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 244, or at dmansfield@ironmountaindailynews.com.