Gladstone’s Nick Proehl goes for a pin against Westwood’s Manny Edelson on Dec. 11, 2024 at Gladstone High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

GLADSTONE — First-year coach Ryan Harrenstein believes the Gladstone wrestlers are improving.

It would be hard to disagree after the Braves posted a convincing 71-12 victory over Ishpeming Westwood here Wednesday night.

Eight Gladstone grapplers recorded pins and Jack Taylor (190) won by technical fall (16-0) over Dennis Smith.

The Braves then won the last two bouts on forfeits.

“This was definitely our best meet,” Harrenstein said. “Our conditioning is getting better. We have a very hard working group. The kids wrestled hard. We’re definitely heading in the right direction, which is awesome.”

After giving up a forfeit at 106, the Braves recorded three straight pins with Wyatt Forvilly needing just 28 seconds to defeat Caleb Christesen at 126 for an 18-6 lead.

Westwood’s Louis Trudell built an 8-3 lead in the first period of the 113 match.

Kristof Stahlman then began his comeback with an escape in the second stanza.

Trudell still led 9-7 after an escape before Stahlmann gained the upper hand.

The Braves were awarded a forfeit at 132 and before Conner Britton (138) pinned Nolan Heikkinen at 1:18, extending their lead to 30-6.

Gladstone’s advantage increased to 36-6 on Nick Proehl’s pin of Manny Edelson at 5:08 into the 144 match and Ryan Forvilly (150) pinned Ryan Jokola in 1:45 to make it 42-6.

A takedown gave Proehl a 3-0 lead after the opening frame in the 144 bout. An illegal hold then shaved his lead to 3-1 in the second period.

Proehl led 5-1 after the second before a near fall gave him an 8-1 advantage midway through the third, setting him up with the pin and a 42-6 advantage for Gladstone.

Westwood Gavin Camero needed just 53 seconds to pin Deegan Miron at 157.

The Braves, however, didn’t allow the Patriots to score again.

“We got off to some decent starts,” Westwood coach Dan Carlson said. “We have a long way to go, although the guys put in the effort. We just didn’t have the extra effort to finish our moves. We’re happy to get this meet in. This gave us a better feel for where we’re at. We need to be more aggressive. We feel our technique is there, only our mental toughness isn’t there yet. We have a good group of kids. Only, it will take some time.”

Both teams are entered in Saturday’s Marquette Challenge.

“We’ll pretty much be bringing a full team to Marquette,” Harrenstein said. “That tournament brings teams from downstate. It’s hard to get that type of competition up here. That will be a good test for the kids.”

106 — White, W, forfeit

113 — Stahlmann, G, pinned Trudell, 3:33

120 — Baldovsky, G, pinned Manier, :40

126 — W. Forvilly, G, pinned Christesen, :28

132 — Laird, G, forfeit

138 — Britton, G, pinned Heikkinen, 1:18

144 — Proehl, G, pinned Edelson, 5:08

150 — R. Forvilly, G, pinned Jokola, 1:45

157 — Camero, W, pinned Miron, :53

165 — M. Wilson, G, pinned Stickel, 5:03

175 — Wells, G, pinned Dockery, 1:24

190 — Taylor, G, dec. Smith, 16-0

215 — B. Wilson, G, forfeit

285 — Racine, G, forfeit.