4 Hartland Wrestlers Aim For Third Place

AUBURN HILLS — Four Hartland wrestlers advanced past the third round of the consolation bracket Friday during the state individual finals, giving them a shot at third place in their weight classes on Saturday.

Austin Eicher (112), Keith Boldt (119), John Julien (151) and John Charneski (171) all have two wins and a loss in the tournament. Ross Kantola (125), Chase Snider (145) and Chad Hunt (160) have all bowed out of the competition with two losses.

Hartland results from Friday include:

• 4:47 p.m. update — Hartland freshman Austin Eicher is now just two matches away from placing in the top-5 in the state of Michigan at the 112-pound weight class. He’s now 2-1 in the MHSAA tournament after his pin with :05 remaining over Zach Henderson from Hudsonville. Eicher grabbed an early 2-0 lead with :40 left in the first period after he gained position over Henderson and spun around him to gain control. He led 7-0 before the pin. “I feel good but at the same time I feel bad,” Eicher said. I really wanted to make a run at the state title. ... I just have to hang in there and wrestle the best I can.” After a rough start, the Hartland Eagles are back on track in the MHSAA state wrestling tournament.
• 4:47 p.m. update — Keith Boldt is vivid proof of that. Just :15 seconds into his match with Gabe Martinez, Boldt had already taken him down and grabbed two near fall points en route to a 10-2 victory. Boldt led 6-1 at the end of the second. He scored four near fall points in the bout.
• 3:56 p.m. update — Despite not having any more wrestlers in the championship bracket, the Hartland Eagles aren’t done. Justin Charneski sprawled out of the hands of Kameron Jones from Westland John Glenn and won 2-1. Charneski scored his first point via an escape. With the win he is guaranteed at least eight place.
• 3:23 p.m. update — Chase Snider of Hartland was defeated, 4-2, in overtime by Derek Saudners of Monroe. Saunders pulled off a single leg takedown just eight seconds into overtime. The overtime loss is the Eagles fourth overtime loss in the state finals. Snider held and early 2-0 lead after reversing Saunders, who was on top, 1:12 into the second period. Saunders grabbed his two points in the same way, by reverse.
• 3:23 p.m. update — Top-ranked Hartland wrestler John Julien may not be able to come out with a gold medal, but that isn’t slowing him down. Julien defeated Shon Powell of Brother Rice in decisive fashion, 10-4. Julien scored his first points via a single leg with just :13 left in the first period, he closed out the match with a takedown with :13 left in the third period. With the win Julien advances to the next round of the consolation finals.
• 1:51 p.m. update — Hartland freshman Austin Eicher battled back from a three point deficit; however, fell to Malik Amine of Detroit Catholic Central in overtime. With :30 Eicher scored a reversal and with Amine battling to avoid being pinned, but he was called for a stalling inside the :10 mark, tying the bout at three all. Eicher looked to be in control in overtime after taking Amine to the groud, but Amine got top position with :33 left and came out on top.
• Following an impressive win over a top-seeded opponent, Hartland wrestler Justin Charneski eventually fell to Vince Tkac of Brighton, 6-0. Tkac scored his first points with a minute left in the first period after taking down Charneski. He extended that lead in the second after starting on top and grabbing four near fall points. “This was a touch match, he (Charneski) is a tough kid,” Brighton coach Sam Amine said. “We’re proud of him. He’s worked hard.” Tkac, 55-7, will face Matt Vandermeer of Clarkston in he next round.
• Hartland's John Julien was defeated 9-2 by Niko Parks of East Kentwood. Julien now has only lost three matches all season long. Most assuredly, this will hurt the worst. With the loss Julien is in the consolation bracket of the 2011 MHSAA state tournament. Parks held a 7-2 lead late and capped off his impressive win with a reversal with :20 remaining.  
• Keith Boldt of Hartland defeated Brighton’s Daniel Koenig via pin in the second period. Boldt is now 2-0 this season against Koenig and needs just one more win in order to place in the tournament. “I feel great," Boldt said. "I know now I have a chance to get back on the podium. I just have to work hard, move my feet and go for the top.”

Here's a final summary of the tournament (UPDATED Saturday 4:04 p.m.):

119 Keith Boldt — 42-8 overall; 3-2 in event

Table source: MHSAA tournament results and Patch reporting

Note: One loss puts wrestlers in the consolation bracket where they compete for third place in their weight class. A second loss on the first two days puts them out of the tournament. They can lose on Saturday but still wrestle for another place.

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