Veterans Key for Eagles (12/25/03)
Rissley pins his way into Eagles' wrestling record books (1/22/04)
Eagles' Zimmerman breaks father's pin mark (1/29/04)
Hudsonville wrestlers not stung by defending state champs (2/8/04)
Hudsonville tops Grand Haven, earns state quarterfinals berth (2/26/04)
Stapf striving for return to state (2/26/04)
Wrestlers moving on (2/26/04)
Stapf captures first state championship (3/18/04)
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(12/21/03, Holland Sentinel)
Panthers second at tourney
West Ottawa wrestling team is runner-up at Holland's Tim Horn Invitational after winning four of five matches
By LEO MARTONOSI
Senior correspondent
West Ottawa didn't win the annual Tim Horn Wrestling Invitational Saturday at the Dutch Dome, but the Panthers did the next best thing.
"To finish second to Hudsonville is no disgrace," West Ottawa coach Eric McCourt said. "I didn't like some of the young mistakes we made today, but that's a good team we wrestled.
"Hudsonville and Middleville are the two best teams we've wrestled so far."
The Eagles, one of the top teams in the state, finished their impressive day with five wins in five tries. Hudsonville beat West Ottawa in the finals, 58-18.
"They have a very good team," said West Ottawa senior standout John McClure, who won all five of his matches at 189 pounds.
West Ottawa's earlier wins came over East Kentwood, 49-27, Marshall, 58-17, and Muskegon Reeths Puffer, 48-21.
The rugged McClure stayed perfect for the day and for the season by pinning Hudsonville's Nick Coniff in 44 seconds.
McClure, who owns a 16-0 record, predicted he would beat Caniff.
"I've been wrestling well and have a lot of confidence in myself," McClure said.
McClure, a two-year varsity starter for the West Ottawa football team at defensive end, wrestled at state a year ago at 171.
"I would like to win conference," McClure said. "Hopefully, I'll get back there this year, and place."
McClure has put on several pounds since last season.
"I'm a big time lifter, and gained weight and strength where I needed to," McClure said.
McCourt thinks highly of McClure, the only Panther to go undefeated during the tournament.
"John wrestles all year around," McCourt said. "He eats, and sleeps wrestling. He's a tough kid, who's gotten better and better since he first started wrestling (back in the eighth grade)."
McCourt could say the same thing about Keal Harter, who went 4-1 for the Panthers and lost his only match to Cody Crossman of Hudsonville.
"I made a mistake against the kid from Hudsonville," Harter said. "I went to my knees and shouldn't have done that, but overall I think I did pretty well today."
"We brought some other kids in to wrestle and they did pretty well," McCourt said.
McCourt was especially pleased with Scott Arnold's 3-0 performance, especially his 7-2 come-from-behind pin over Hudsonville's Dan Staph at 275.
"I always tell our kids to never give up and Scott didn't, and to beat a two-time state qualifier speaks well for him," McCourt said. "Zane Kingsbury (160) also went 3-0 today."
Holland, the only other local team in the six-team invite, finished third. The Dutch posted a 3-2 record.
"We did well overall, but I'm kind of disappointed because we were one match away from getting West Ottawa," Holland coach Steve Kruithoff said, referring to his team's 41-34 setback to the Panthers.
The Dutch also upended Marshall, 53-38, East Kentwood, 54-29, and Muskegon Reeths Puffer, 39-32.
Kyle Modad of Holland compiled a perfect 5-0 record against stiff competition at 152.
"Kyle really stepped it up today," said Matt Hill, Dutch assistant coach. "He wrestled like he can."
The talented Holland sophomore was the lone Holland wrestler to defeat Hudsonville.
"Kyle just had a great day," Hill said. "We're pretty proud of him."
