Bleise Crowned District Champ

Dexter freshman Steven Bleise entered the third period of his 103-pound district title match against Adrian’s Joe Garcia tied at 5 points, on bottom, and needing an escape.

Just when it appeared that the match was headed for overtime, Bleise broke free and reversed the hold to take a 7-5 lead, which he held to during the final 10 seconds to win the his weight class in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 district wrestling tournament held at Dexter High School Saturday.

“I’ve been working out in practice, trying to get off the bottom. Getting off the bottom is something everyone has got to get better at. With (Garcia), he was really tough riding on top. I kept going to my standup and it just didn’t work,” Bleise said. “So I went to my switch and that’s what ended up getting it for me.”

Bleise said it means a lot to win the district. For one, winning district gives him a better seed at next week’s tournament.

“It’s all about doing well at the big tournaments and coming hot at the right time,” he said.

With only two tournaments remaining, there couldn’t be a better time.

He said he hoped to win the regional meet and place at the state level.

Bleise is one of five Dexter wrestlers who’ll make their way to Mason High School next Saturday for the regional tournament. The top four in each class from the regional tournament qualify for the MHSAA finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Joining Bleise are Zeke Breuninger, Drew Barnes, Alex Sloan and Shawn Chamberlain.

Barnes, in the 152-pound class, lost his championship match by an 11-4 decision to Milan’s Tim Sims, who is undefeated this season. Barnes is 46-4. Earlier in the day, he won a 12-5 major decision and he pinned his opponent in the semifinals.

Heavyweight Shawn Chamberlain was fourth in his weight class. Chamberlain started strong, pinning his first two opponents before losing a 3-0 decision in the semifinal. He earned a spot in the consolation finals with another pin, but was pinned there by Chelsea rival Charlie Kempf.

Sloan, a senior in the 125-pound class, had a bye in round one and then won a 12-10 decision in the quarterfinals before losing in the semifinals. Sloan won a 7-1 decision over Chelsea rival Nate Miller to advance to the consolation finals, where he lost to Parma Western’s Tanner Jewell.

In the 103-pound division, Breuninger lost his first match of the day and battled his way back, defeating Chelsea’s Brandon Cameron, 5-3, and winning a 6-4 decision over Jackson Northwest’s Ryan Dula. Breuninger lost his consolation final match to South Lyon East’s Logan Crandall.