Up next: Munising joins 7 other Division 4 teams at 2017 MHSAA Team Wrestling Finals at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant at noon on Friday, Feb. 24

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MUNISING — Keyed by a match-clinching victory from freshman Trevor Johnson, Munising won twice on Wednesday to advance to its second straight appearance at the MHSAA Division 4 team wrestling finals.

Wrestling at home, the Mustangs defeated Gwinn to open the evening 48-24 with just one weight class contested — Johnson pinning the Modeltowners’ Jaeden Martinez in 47 seconds at 145 pounds.

After St. Ignace took out a shorthanded Manistique team 49-23 in the other semi, Munising jumped out to a quick start in the championship match against the Saints.

The Mustangs’ Andrew Miles at 189, Colin Murdock at 215 and Alex Johnson at 285 all won by pins to give their team an 18-0 lead.

After the teams split the four lightest weights 12-12, including pins by Munising’s Devin Moore and Zach McGowan, the Mustangs’ Nick Miles earned a decision and St. Ignace picked up a forfeit.

It left Munising ahead, but still vulnerable at 145 with Johnson facing a wrestler from St. Ignace, Greg Paquin, who he lost to last weekend during the individual districts.

“We had a big crowd at home, including a big student section, but I don’t think they knew the importance of that match,” MHS coach Bob Miles said. “Our wrestlers sure did, though.”

Paquin looked to repeat his weekend feat, going up 5-0, before Johnson got a reversal and then pin 21 seconds into the third period.

St. Ignace followed with a pair of pins, but it didn’t matter at that point.

“Our upperclassmen did their job and our underclassmen stepped up when we needed them to,” Miles said. “It’s great to see how our underclassmen have been coming along.”

The Mustangs advance to the final eight teams at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant on Feb. 24, where all the team finals will be held.

Team seedings are set to be determined on Sunday and announced that day or Monday, according to Miles.

In another team regional held Wednesday in Petoskey, Marquette bowed out in Division 2 to No. 4-ranked Gaylord 60-18 in the semifinals. The Blue Devils were edged by No. 3 St. Johns 30-28 in the regional final.

The Redmen’s Beau Caster at 160, Cooper Holferty at 171 and Zack Albright at 215 gave MSHS all its points with pins.

Area schools, including all those in action Wednesday, will have wrestlers taking part at Division 2, 3 and 4 individual wrestling regionals on Saturday.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.