YOUTH WRESTLING: WAVERLY'S BOWMAN WINS NATIONAL TITLE; WOLCOTT RUNNER-UP (2019-04-07)
Valley Sports ReportLANSING, Mich. - Brayden Bowman won a national title over the weekend, and his Waverly Youth Wrestling Club teammate Leah Wolcott finished second here at the National United Wrestling Association for Youth (NUWAY) National Championships.
Isaac Peppard also competed and was 1-2 on the weekend.
"I'm extremely proud of these three kids," said Waverly coach Justin Wolcott. "Their hard work and determination to improve everyday will continue to take them to the top level in this sport.
"It's amazing to see three kids from a small town compete so well at the national level," noted Wolcott. "NUWAY is a national tournament, corresponding with 24 state tournaments."
Waverly finished 85th out of 413 teams in the team standings.
Competing in the 62-pound weight class in the 6-&-under division, Bowman went 3-0 on the weekend.
Bowman opened with a 14-3 major decision over Tucker Croutch, who finished third at the Michigan State Championships.
Bowman advanced to face Michigan State runner-up Julien Housemen and won a hard-fought 7-4 decision.
The finals brought Bowman a match-up against Michigan State champion Deonte Wright of the Silverback Wrestling Club. Bowman dominated and forged a 12-3 major decision to become national champion.
Wolcott, competing in the 47-pound weight class of the girls 7- & 8-year-old division, went 2-1 on the weekend.
Wolcott opened up against New York State champion Lordly Beardsley and scored a fall in 1:45.
In the semifinals, Wolcott scored an 11-0 major decision over Ava Hall, who was the fourth-place finisher at the Michigan State Championships.
In the finals, Wolcott squared off against Ohio State champion and the top-ranked wrestler in the nation Kendleigh Bowyer. She trailed 4-1 when she was pinned with 5 seconds remaining in the first period.
Peppard, competing in the 49-pound weight class in the boys 7- & 8-year-old division, was 1-2 on the weekend.
In his first match, Peppard scored a reversal with 4 seconds remaining to win a hard-fought 6-4 decision over Praxton LaBonte of Michigan.
In the second round, Peppard dropped a 9-4 decision to Alex Golden, who had finished fourth in the Michigan State championships.
Peppered was eliminated with a 16-0 decision to Michigan State Champion Gregory Spisz.
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IN PHOTO: Waverly's Brayden Bowman.
