KINGSFORD — Four area wrestlers were crowned champions in the Ray Mariucci Invitational tournament here Saturday

It was Kingsford which landed the biggest prize, however, winning its own tournament for the first time since 1993 with 206 points.

The Flivvers were followed by Menominee 152.5, Negaunee 121.5, Escanaba 104.5 and Munising 100.5.

Esky senior Cade Krueger took the 144-pound title by pinning a wiry Florence, Wis. freshman Cole Chitko in 2:36.

“He’s a strong kid,” he said. “Florence has some good wrestlers. This is the only tournament in which we see them. I’m hoping to be a two-timer (U.P. champion) next weekend. I won it as a sophomore, then I lost to Drew Hanson (of Gladstone) last year. He was my biggest rival last year, but he has graduated. I have a better chance this year. although you always have to give it your all. I’ve learned to channel that and take my losses as lessons.”

Junior teammate Cody Crowe pinned Gwinn senior Thomas Jenkins in the 120 final and needed just nine seconds to pin Marquette sophomore Eric Gerou in the semifinal.

“It was a very challenging day,” Crowe said. “I just kept my head in the game. You can’t take the pedal off the medal. You have to keep up your intensity. This is a confidence builder. I’m getting ready for the U.P. Finals (Saturday in Marquette). That’s going to be my mom’s birthday. I want to give her a present. I took third last week at Esky. I’ve been wrestling since second grade. This is a step in the right direction.”

Crowe, who improved his season record to 18-5, placed third in the Esky Elks Invite Jan. 4.

Powers North Central sophomore Cooper Raab pinned Kingsford senior Reed Degroot to claim the 126-pound championship.

“I already wrestled Reed twice this year,” he said. “I worked real hard for this. I just had to trust in my practices. I felt that I was well prepared. I overheard him and his coach talking about taking a different approach. I was feeling super confident. I feel refreshed and ready for the U.P. Finals. Wrestling under the spotlight will be exciting.”

Bark River-Harris junior Charles Walker earned the 275 title by pinning Kingsford junior Logan Declark with only 12 seconds remaining in the match.

BR-H sophomore Mitch Corrigan (190) placed third after taking a 7-4 decision from Marquette junior Trent Sadler.

Esky freshman Isiah Davis (113) also became a third-place finisher by pinning Ishpeming Westwood freshman Jack Manier at 2:01.

Eskymos’ junior Cannon Arnt (150) finished fourth after dropping a 7-0 decision to Westwood junior Gavin Comero.

The Eskymos host Negaunee, Westwood and Kingsford in a quadrangular meet Thursday.

North Central goes to Iron Mountain for a quadrangular Thursday and BR-H resume in Saturday’s U.P. Finals in Marquette.

Results

Kingsford 206, Menominee 152.5, Negaunee 121.5, Escanaba 104.5, Munising 100.5, Ishpeming Westwood 81.5, Powers North Central 70.5, Gwinn 64, Kalkaska 51.5, Rudyard 49.5, Bark River-Harris 49, Iron Mountain 47, Norway 42.5; Marquette 39, Florence, Wis. 35, Newberry 32, U.P. Extra 0.

157 — Smith, King, pinned Jurmu, Neg, 1:39; 3, Weiczorek, Mun; 4, Baxter, Men.

165 — Odom, Men, pinned Nelson, Men, :43; 3, Dockery, WW; 4, Bindermann, Kal.

175 — Lockhart, King, pinned Amundson, Nor, 1:36; 3, Eisonhardt, Mun; 4, Cunningham, Men.

190 — Kelley, F, pinned Rouse, King, 1:50; 3, Corrigan, BR-H; 4, Sadler, Mqt.

215 — Tappy, King, pinned Clarke, Men, 2:28; 3, Saldana, IM; 4, Nehring, PNC.

285 — Walker, BR-H, pinned Declarke, King, 5:48; 3, White, King; 4, Hamilton, New.

106 — Asikainen, Neg, pinned Hollen, King, :53; 3, Nord, Mun; 4, Ellis, Mqt.

113 — Espinoza, Neg, pinned D. Savoie, Rud, 2:44; 3, Davis, E; 4, Manier, WW.

120 — Crowe, E, pinned Jenkins, Gw, :56; 3, Carlson, Kal; 4, Bosley, Mun.

126 — Raab, PNC, pinned Degroot, King, 3:03; 3, Buyze-Prie, Kal; 4, Christesen, WW.

132 — Ray, King, King, pinned VanLandschoot, Mun, 3:12; 3, Patrick, King; 4, Melka, Gw.

138 — Barstow, Men, pinned Hendrickson, King, 1:19; 3, Lindquist, WW; 4, K. Savoie, Rud.

144 — Krueger, E, pinned Marefke, F, 2:36; 3, LaBonte, PNC; 4, Chitko, F.

150 — Manier, IM, pinned, Storm, Neg, 1:07; 3, Comero, WW; 4, Arnt, E.