On Saturday, Dec. 16th the varsity wrestling team traveled to Hartland High School for an individual tournament.  This was a double elimination, 16 person bracket tournament.  Clinton placed 2nd overall with only 9 of their 14 starters in attendance on the day.  Hartland, who is ranked 2nd in Division 1, took the tournament championship.  But Clinton was the story of the tournament as the smallest school by far on the day.  With only nine wrestlers, Clinton placed all nine in the top three.  Clinton finished with two champions, 5 seconds, and two third place finishers.  At 132 pounds senior Connor Younts took the tournament championship in the finals over his ranked opponent from Hartland in a back and forth match.  Connor defeated Dalla Korponic 4-3 in the spotlight match up.  One of the unique things during the tournament was that all the finals were under a spotlight as the entire crowd focused on the championship match as the rest of the lights were turned off.  A very cool experience and opportunity for the wrestlers.  Clinton's other champion was sophomore Bryce Randolph at 165 pounds.  Randolph pinned his ranked opponent Paul Khamo of Wateford Mott who was previously undefeated.  Placing second on the day was freshman Zach Taylor at 113 pounds, who lost in overtime 8-10 in the finals.  Zach picked up two pins on his way to the finals. At 126 pounds Braylon Long earned 2nd place after picking up two straight technical falls on his way to the finals.  At 138 pounds Maurice Ames took 2nd place when he dropped a close 5-6 match.  Maurice picked up a pin and a technical fall on his way to the finals.  Sophomore Cliff Jones took 2nd place overall at 150 pounds and had some great wins along the way.  Cliff started his tournament with a first period pin, then in his second match in the quarterfinals he found himself behind.  Cliff found himself down 1-12 going into the third period.  But that is when the comeback started.  Cliff started on bottom and earned the escape, picked up a takedown, then another, and some back points. Next you know it, Cliff was getting his hand raised with a 16-14 win to advance into the semifinals, a great example of how to never stop competing.  In his next match Cliff found some more grit and won 4-3 to advance to the finals.  At heavyweight Hamza Rafferty picked up two pins on the day as he took 2nd place overall.  Taking third place was freshman Joe Hodges at 120 pounds after he grabbed a pin of his own in the second period of his third place match.  Senior Wyatt Hicks placed 3rd at 215 pounds as he battled well all day earning two pins and dropping a close semi final match 2-6.  Overall the Redwolves competed well and placed high in each weight class.  This Wednesday Clinton will be competing against State Ranked Bronson at home starting at 5:30.  We are looking forward to a great match.  On Friday, the varsity team is headed to Martin for a Team Tournament before holiday break.  It is a great time to be a Redwolf.