The Tri-City United wrestling team had a successful season and its awards banquet reflected that success.
On Sunday night seven Titan wrestlers were honored with All-Conference awards. Zach Mikel (160 pounds) and Tyler Schroer (182) achieved All-Conference Honorable Mention and Brandon Balma (138), Nick Johnson (113), Justin Kopet (145), Jose Reyes (170) and Caleb Whipps (106) all received All-Conference medals.
There were also 18 wrestlers who lettered this season. They are Dylan Borchardt (160), Kopet, Ezra Medellin (220), Mikel, Manuel Arroyo (145), Jack Hiller (152), Johnson, Sam Miller (195), Steven Miller (182), Schroer, Balma, Adam Fredrickson (132), Reyes, Hunter Rutt (126), Riley O’Malley (120), Jack Paggen (145), Whipps and Caden O’Malley (106). Wrestlers were awarded a letter if they had five varsity wins, finished in the top six of their section or if the coaches thought they had done something outstanding during the season.
Multiple season awards were also given out at the banquet.
Kopet had the most takedowns this season with 123, and he tied for the most pins at 11 with Balma. Kopet was also voted the Most Valuable Wrestler and had perfect attendance throughout the season. Finally, Kopet had the most wins of the season with a total of 34.
Balma and Schroer were voted the Most Improved Wrestlers, and Mr. Hustle for the junior varsity team was Zach Balma and for the varsity team was Rutt.
Jack Seamrow won the Titan Pride Award and Caden and Riley O’Malley both had perfect attendance as well.
Reyes and Whipps also tied for the fastest pin both with a 22 second pin.
Also during the season, three Titans hit winning milestones. Johnson hit 100 total career wins, Kopet hit 125 total career wins and Mikel hit 75 total career wins.
Finally, the team also won the gold level academic award with an average GPA of 3.784 which Mikel said was even higher than it was last year.
“It was a fun year,” head coach Brian Mikel said. “We started out slow, but as the year progressed we started improving. It was amazing to see the kids come together this year.”
Individual records
220: Jahir Arcos 8-6
145: Manuel Arroyo 19-7
138: Brandon Balma 32-12
285: Robert Bastyr 3-3
160: Dylan Borchardt 7-15
132: Adam Fredrickson 20-18
152: Jack Hiller 11-26
113: Nick Johnson 31-10
138: Justin Kopet 34-6
160: Zach Mikel 24-13
220: Ezra Medellin 6-11
195: Sam Miller 19-22
182: Steven Miller 12-17
120: Riley O’Malley 18-17
145: Jack Paggen 12-1
170: Jose Reyes 27-19
170: Brody Rud 14-10
95: Austin Rutt 6-10
126: Hunter Rutt 17-22
182: Tyler Schroer 21-14
106: Caleb Whipps 30-15
