Gladstone’s Kristoff Stalhmann wrestles in a match against Bark River-Harris wrestler Emma Riley on Jan. 8, 2025 at Bark River-Harris High School. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

HARRIS — Senior Ron Portillo came to Escanaba’s rescue here Wednesday night, helping the Eskymos squeeze past Gladstone 42-40 in the first match of a triangular wrestling meet.

Gladstone then defeated Bark River-Harris 58-18 and Esky defeated the Broncos 72-12.

Cannon Arnt gave Esky a 36-12 cushion by pinning Gladstone’s Ryder Forvilly 2:42 into the 150-pound bout.

Deegan Miron (157) started Gladstone’s comeback by pinning Lucas DeGrand at 3:13.

After taking a forfeit at 165, Jack Taylor (175) took an 11-2 decision from Haidyn Danis to bring the Braves within 36-28.

Trevor Thorbahn (190) pinned Ethan Ingebrigtsen in just 42 seconds and Ben Wilson (215) pinned Zahn Anderson and suddenly the Braves were ahead 40-36, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

“Luckily we had a senior move up from 215 to 285,” Esky coach John Rogers said. “Ron really showed his leadership. This is the second time he won a dual meet for us. We’re nursing quite a few injuries and some of our kids are sick, but costly mistakes in the middle weights made the match closer than we thought it’d be. Although, that’s not to take anything away from Gladstone. They capitalized on our mistakes and got pins.”

In the second match, an early takedown gave BR-H’s Emma Riley (113) a 3-0 lead before Gladstone’s Kristof Stahlmann got an escape and surged to a 6-3 lead by the end of the opening frame.

Stahlmann then continued his dominance and recorded a pin late in the second period.

The Broncos received forfeits for a 12-6 lead before Gladstone’s Conner Britton and Wyatt Forvilly won by technical fall to send the Braves ahead 16-12.

“I would rather get the points on the mat,” BR-H coach Evan Lamb said. “Emma had a nice takedown against Gladstone and I’m happy with the way Charles Walker got two pins, but we’ve got a lot of work to do on the little things. We have a young team with a lot of inexperience.”

Gladstone got three forfeits of its own before Max Wilson (165) pinned Carson Schwalbach in 3:01 for a 40-12 advantage.

The Braves took another forfeit and recorded two pins before Walker (285) pinned Gladstone’s Marcus Racine in 64 seconds.

Esky won the first four bouts by pin before taking three forfeits against BR-H.

DeGrand (165) then pinned Schwalbach in 2:38, giving the Eskymos a 48-0 advantage.

Following a fourth forfeit, Mitch Corrigan (190) got the Broncos on the board by pinning Ingebrigtsen in the final 15 seconds of that match.

Portillo (215) pinned Carson Brunette in 1:53 before Walker (285) got his second pin against Esky’s Connor Teal at 1:56.

“It’s tough to give up five weight classes against teams like Escanaba which can fill every weight class,” Lamb said.

Esky and BR-H travel to Kingsford for Saturday’s Ray Mariucci Invitational. Gladstone heads downstate for the Traverse City Central Invite Saturday.

“Evan and Ryan are good coaches which will help us downstate,” Rogers said. “I’m looking forward to working with them in the postseason and seeing what we can do.”

Escanaba 42, Gladstone 40

106 — Randstadler, E, pinned Stahlmann, 1:12

113 — I. Davis, E, forfeit

120 — Crowe, E, forfeit

126 — Esky forfeit

132 — Britton, G, Smithengell, 1:57

138 — Krueger, E, pinned W. Forvilly, 1:30

144 — Proehl, G, pinned Smith, 4:56

150 — Arnt, E, pinned R. Forvilly, 2:42

157 — Miron, G, pinned DeGrand, 3:13

165 — M. Wilson, G, forfeit

175 — Taylor, G, dec. Denis, 11-2

190 — Thorbahn, G, pinned Ingebrigtsen, :42

215 — B. Wilson, G, pinned Anderson, 3:11

285 — Portillo, E, pinned Racine, :39

Gladstone 58, Bark River-Harris 18

113 — Stahlmann, G, pinned Riley, 3:53

120 — Weber, BR-H, forfeit

126 — O’Driscoll, BR-H, forfeit

132 — Britton, G, tech fall over Lefiles, 17-2

138 — W. Forvilly, G, tech fall over Uskilith-Karaja, 15-0

144 — Proehl, G, forfeit

150 — R. Forvilly, G, forfeit

157 — Miron, G, forfeit

165 — M. Wilson, G, pinned Schwalbach, 3:01

175 — Taylor, G, forfeit

190 — Thorbahn, G, pinned Brunette, :50

215 — B. Wilson, G, pinned Corrigan, 1:19

285 — Walker, BR-H, pinned Racine, 1:04

Escanaba 72, Bark River-Harris 12

120 — Crowe, E, pinned Weber, :12

126 — Berube, E, pinned O’Driscoll, :43

132 — Blahnik, E, pinned Uskilith-Karaga, 4:41

138 — Krueger, E, by pin, :26

144 — Smith, E, forfeit

150 — Arnt, E, forfeit

157 — Skerbeck, E, forfeit

165 — DeGrand, E, pinned Schwalbach, 2:38

175 — H. Davis, E, forfeit

190 — Corrigan, BR-H, pinned Ingebrigtsen, 5:45

215 — Portillo, E, pinned Brunette, 1:53

285 — Walker, BR-H, pinned Teal, 1:56

106 — Ranstadler, E, forfeit

113 — I. Davis, E, pinned Riley, 1:14