The St. Ignace Saints wrestling team members receiving awards during the team's annual banquet include (front, from left) Mike McNeely, Tyler Oja, John Evashevski, Rob Robinson, Eric Brown; (back) Billy Grogan, Cody Swagger, and Dan St. Onge. (Photograph courtesy of LaSalle High School Yearbook) The district champion St. Ignace Saints wrestling team was honored and eight individuals received awards during the annual banquet at LaSalle High School Tuesday, March 24.

The Saints, led by veteran Head Coach Harvey Bentley and assistant coaches Wade Huskey and Chris Marshall, won their third consecutive district title, completing the season with a 28-6 dual match record, and were ranked in the top five in the Upper Peninsula Coaches Poll.

Senior Rob Robinson, with a school record 57 victories (57-4) during the season, received the Rob Matelski Memorial Most Valuable Wrestler Award. Robinson joined the school's Century Club with 128 career wins, improving on his overall mark from his freshman season at 12-7, 16-15 as a sophomore, and 42-12 as a junior. He placed fourth during the Division 4 state finals, and third at regionals. He placed first at districts, St. Ignace Lions Invitational, Upper Peninsula Championships, and Straits Area Conference (SAC) meets, and took second at the Escanaba Elks Tourney.

Senior Tyler Oja and junior Dan St. Onge shared the Josh Brown Memorial Most Improved Wrestler Award.

Oja recorded a 48-8 mark during the season, and is a member of the century club with 107 career victories. He finished first in the conference meet, second in the districts, St. Ignace tourney, and U.P. Championships. He placed third at Escanaba.

St. Onge registered a 6-6 overall record and took third at the district tournament.

The Sportsmanship Award was presented to senior Eric Brown and sophomore Cody Swagger.

Brown posted a 47-14 record with 84 career wins, and placed fourth at regionals, first at districts and SAC, second at the St. Ignace Tourney, and fifth at Escanaba and U.P. Championships.

Swagger was 6-1 during the season.

The trio of seniors Mike McNeely and Billy Grogan and junior

John Evashevski received Coaches Awards.

McNeely set a new team record with the fastest pin in four seconds. He recorded a 51-9 mark during the season, has 160 career wins, and placed eighth at the state finals. He placed second at regionals, first at districts and in the conference, and second at St. Ignace and Escanaba Tourneys, and U.P. Championships.

Grogan was 27-13 during the year with a sixth place finish at the U.P. Championships.

Evashevski, 56-4 on the season and with 125 career wins, finished third at state finals. He placed first at regionals, districts, and in the conference, and at the St. Ignace and U.P. Championships, placing third at Escanaba.

The eight seniors on this team compiled a 315-83 record during the season and 714 career victories. Remaining senior wrestlers include Stefan Saffian, who fell five victories short of 100 career wins. Saffian closed out this final season with a 38-11 overall mark, took third at districts, second at the conference, third at St. Ignace, and fifth at the U.P. Championships.

Kaiden Shiemke was 40-14 with 64 career wins and finished third at districts, first at the St. Ignace Tourney, and second at SAC and U.P. Championships.

Alan Honeycutt was 7-10 during the season and placed third at the SAC meet.

"This was a very successful and outstanding season," said Coach Bentley. "The seniors were the heart and soul of this team and will be missed."