Courtesy photo Hunter Larson won his 100th career match at the district championship in Marquette Wednesday. Pictured with Hunter, from left to right: Asst. Coach Jason Krueger, Asst. Coach Paul Caswell, and Head Coach Jeff Wright.

MARQUETTE — Hunter Larson achieved a wrestling milestone Wednesday night while helping the Escanaba Eskymos secure their first Division 2 district title in three years.

The junior grappler earned his 100th career victory by taking a 3-2 decision from Sault Ste. Marie sophomore Nathan Heyrman in a 140-pound match.

Esky opened with a 48-30 triumph over two-time defending champ Marquette, then beat the Blue Devils 57-15 for the title.

The victory sends the Eskymos to the team regional at Gaylord where they’ll face the host Blue Devils in their opener Wednesday.

Esky, however, will first turn its attention to Saturday’s individual district, also at Gaylord.

Larson gained the upper hand with an escape and takedown in the closing moments of the second period in a match-up of two reigning Upper Peninsula champions.

“That was a big match for Hunter,” said Esky coach Jeff Wright. “Hundred wins as a junior. That’s special to him, especially when you consider he got his 100th win against a very good wrestler. You want to see somebody else on the mat. That was good preparation for the individual district.”

Heyrman was crowned 135-pound champion and Larson took the 145 title in the U.P. Championships at Marquette Jan. 19.

Freshman Matt Moody (145) trimmed Sault’s deficit to 27-15 following a 4-2 victory over junior Noah Weaver. Esky then won the final five bouts, including three by forfeit.

“The 140-pound match could have gone either way,” said Sault coach Del Craven. “We moved Nathan up to face Hunter for (individual) district seeding. Nathan brought some youth experience to the team. Last year was more of a learning year for him, but now he’s prepared.”

Esky trailed Marquette 30-27 when sophomore Ryan VanEffen got pinned by freshman Wyatt Kuhlman three minutes, 58 seconds into the 152-pound match.

Junior Noah Weaver (160) then sent Esky ahead to stay by pinning freshman Gideon Bell in 3:17.

Esky’s lead grew to 39-30 after sophomore Kahler Geyer (171) pinned junior Jackson Holdwick at 1:24 and junior Baily Papineau (189) secured the team’s victory by pinning senior Reid Grobar in 2:44.

“They moved some kids around, which made that match close,” said Wright. “They also had a couple matches that could have gone the other way which would have made it real close. You win as a team, but we kind of rely on our middle weights to carry us and look for bonus points elsewhere. We moved Isaiah Olson to heavyweight (against Marquette) and he wrestled well.”

Marquette led 24-12 following the 125 bout in which junior Joe Lagrou pinned Esky junior Dawson Mayville in 49 seconds.

Esky took the next three matches, surging ahead 27-24 on Larson’s pin of junior Nic Swenor at 1:28.

The Eskymos climbed within 24-21 in the previous match in which sophomore Tyler Lawson used an escape and reversal in the closing seconds to secure a 9-5 triumph over junior Griffin Moore.

“We knew that would be a good match,” said Marquette coach Tony Gentz. “Both are quality wrestlers. We tried to change some things, knowing we had to have everything go our way. They’re a good team. We felt we had to take a few chances. We went from having 16 seniors last year to having just two this year. We started nine first-year guys tonight. We’re hoping we can learn from this and come back strong next year.”

Escanaba 48, Marquette 30

215 — Ricker, M, pinned Pendergraft, :57

285 — Olson, E, pinned Manis, 1:27

103 — Brugman, M, forfeit

112 — Arnt, E, forfeit

119 — Holmstrom, M, pinned Viau, 4:52

125 — Lagrou, M, pinned Mayville, :49

130 — Bevins, E, pinned Eggleston, 1:22

135 — Lawson, E, dec. Moore, 9-5

140 — Larson, E, pinned Swenor, 1:38

145 — Kuhlman, M, pinned VanEffen, 3:58

152 — Weaver, E, pinned Bell, 3:17

160 — Geyer, E, pinned Holdwick, 1:24

171 — Papineau, E, pinned Grobar, 2:44

189 — Brunelle, E, dec. Berg, 7-4

Escanaba 57, Sault Ste. Marie 15

285 — Albakal, S, pinned Petronelli, 1:21

112 — Arnt, E, forfeit

119 — Viau, E, forfeit

125 — Bevins, E, pinned Craven, :50

130 — Lawson, E, pinned Miller, 2:44

135 — Bergstrom, S, forfeit

140 — Larson, E, dec. Heyrman, 3-2

145 — Moody, S, dec. Weaver, 4-2

152 — Vizineau, E, forfeit

160 — Geyer, E, pinned Cornwall, 3:10

171 — Papineau, E, forfeit

189 — Pendergraft, E, forfeit

215 — Olson, E, pinned Farrish, 2:31.