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It was the first time Forest Area had ever sent two wrestlers to state, while the Blazers did it last year.

Luke Gillespie not only took a 37-6 record into the Division 3 individual finals, but the Kalkaska junior also had reached 100 wins for his career in his last match.

He competed at state last year as a sophomore.

Gillespie lost his first match in the double elimination tournament, an 11-4 decision to Tyler Corwin of Vermontville Maple-Valley, effectively eliminating him from state title contention at 125 pounds.

But he rebounded in the first round of the consolation bracket for a 13-1 major decision over Matt Yanger of Yale.

His next match proved his last, as the Blazer wrestler lost to Eric Telford of Durand by a fall in 2 minutes and 11 seconds.

Gillespie finished his junior season with a 38-7 record.

He should benefit from the experience in his senior year, and make another run at a state title.

David Chalker brought the curtain down on his high Kalkaska school career with two losses at 152 pounds.

Chalker was pinned in 4:38 by Reuben Salinas of Hamilton, and he then dropped an 8-5 decision to Chris Griffin of Otisville-Lakeville, eliminating him from the tournament.

Justin Gordon qualified for Forest Area at 145 pounds and lost his opening match to Ryan Perry of Clinton, 7-3.

He then defeated Joel Swenson of Marlette by a 14-4 decision to remain alive in the consolation bracket.

Joey Wollum of Iron Mountain ended Gordon's day with a fall in 3:39. Gordon finished his junior season with a 40-7 record.

Forest Area senior Ben Wyatt wrestled at 160 pounds and lost two matches to leave the tournament.

Wyatt lost his first match to Joel Perry of Niles-Brandywine by a fall in 2:37 and was eliminated with a technical fall to Kyle Trent of New Lothrop in 5:53. Wyatt was trailing 18-3 when the official called it done.

Wyatt finished the season 33-13.