By: Savannah Jones (student)
HALE- Although Hale Area Schools offers several athletic programs, one thing they do not offer is youth wrestling. Colton Lynch is a 4th grade student at Hale Elementary School and has been wrestling for the Ogemaw Bulldogs past 3 years. He has done incredibly well since he has started wrestling. The Northeast Michigan wrestling program that the elementary and middle school students wrestle in is called NEMWA. Colton has wrestled a total of 38 matches in NEMWA this season alone, with 32 wins and 6 losses. Within those wins, he has 20 pins. Five of his six losses were to one opponent from Reed City Wrestling Club, but he was able to defeat him later in the season in the championship match.
February 25, Colton competed in the NEMWA State Championship and took home a 1st place victory for the Bulldogs. Throughout this difficult season, he worked through tribulations, showed endurance, defeated his biggest opponent, and proved that every ounce of work and dedication pays off. Not only did Colton compete in the NEMWA State competition, but he competed in the MYWAY Regionals on March 10 which represents the Central, East, Metro, North, Far North, Northeast, Southwest, West and South regions of Michigan.
In MYWAY, Lynch has a record of 15 wins and 2 losses with 9 pins. Colton placed 1st at the MYWAY Regionals, and he will now advance to the MYWAY State Championship in Kalamazoo later this month.
