Mike McNeely Earns 100th Career Wrestling Win
By David Latva

St. Ignace junior Mike McNeely became the 12th Saints wrestler to earn 100 career wins during the Sault Invitational Saturday, February 2.

St. Ignace junior Mike Mc- Neely became the 12th St. Ignace wrestler to earn his 100th career win, reaching the milestone during the Sault St. Marie Invitational Saturday, February 2.

McNeely competed in the 103- pound weight division as a freshman, winning 29 matches that year. As a sophomore, he posted 40 victories in the 112-pound division, needing 31 decisions to reach the 100 plateau this year.

McNeely has compiled a 34-3 mark in the 112-pound division with his only setbacks coming at the hands of a Gladstone wrestler.

Before the Sault Invitational, McNeely had totaled 98 victories, and in the first match, defeated a Newberry athlete, and pinned a Cheboygan wrestler in the first period to reach the milestone.

McNeely earned three more wins during the tourney, for 103 career victories.

"Mike has worked hard with his technique during this two-plus seasons with the Saints program," said Saints Coach Harvey Bentley.

Other St. Ignace wrestlers who have compiled 100 wins are Billy Rickley with 162, Sam Fitzpatrick 152, Michael Green 151, Andy Fitzpatrick 148, Matt Beaudoin 121, Rand Litzner 120, Tom Horn 109, Jason Frazier 104, Tim Moore 102, and Mike Amacher and Aaron Rickley 100.

Saints First at Sault Invite

St. Ignace defeated five opponents and four Saints wrestlers recorded 5-0 records en route to the championship at the Sault Ste. Marie Invitational.

The Saints defeated Newberry 57-17, Cheboygan 60-21, the Petoskey B team 70-12, Gaylord's combined varsity and junior varsity teams 46-23, the host Blue Devils 46-16.

Recording 5-0 records were Derek Marshall (189), John Evashevski (135), with four pins, Mike McNeely (112), with three pins, and Rob Robinson (140), with one pin.

Andy Tamlyn (215), who earned four pins, and Shawn Cowell (145), with two pins registered, each had 4-1 records. Mike Foster was 3-0 in the heavyweight division, while Nate Tamlyn (171) had two pins, and Devin Chargo (119), Tyler Oja (152), and Steffan Saffian (160) each earned one pin.

Brandon Garries wrestled in two weight classes, going 1-0 in the 130-pound division and 2-2 in the 125-pound division. Cody Swagger (125) went 1-0, while Allan Honeycutt (130) and Shawn Horn (103) were 1-3 on the day.