Poyner Lives a Dream in Lake Fenton Victory

BATTLE CREEK — It’s a scenario most wrestlers only imagine.

On Saturday, however, ’s Buddy Poyner lived a dream of many.

The senior earned a 4-2 overtime decision, which clinched the 37-33 semifinal victory against Dundee to send the Blue Devils to the state championship match at 4 p.m. at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek against Richmond, which beat Allendale 44-13 in the other semifinal.

“That was the best match of my life,” Poyner said.

Lake Fenton trailed 33-28 going into the final two matches at 119 and 125 pounds. Blue Devil junior Todd Melick earned a quick pin at 119 pounds, giving Lake Fenton a 34-33 advantage going into the final match.

It pitted Poyner (50-2) against Dundee’s Joey White (33-3), who beat Poyner in the individual state semifinals last year and had beaten him in regionals. Each time, White eked out a 1-point victory.

The match was deadlocked before White earned a reversal and a 2-0 lead. Poyner fought back to earn his own reversal with a minute left in the match to tie the score and send the match into overtime.

“I was winded, he was, too,” Poyner said. “It was pretty nerve-racking.”

In overtime, it looked like White had gained an advantage with a shot, but Poyner quickly countered, slipped out of the attack and grabbed White’s legs on the out-of-bounds edge for the victory, sending the Lake Fenton faithful into frenzy.

“He got into a deep shot, and everyone knows I do funky rolls. I make up my own stuff as I go,” Poyner said. “I did it as hard as I could, and I came out by his legs, right by the edge and got my 2.”

Christian O’Guinn also had a bit of a dream match at 145 pounds. The junior, who is 44-8 on the season, defeated the undefeated Chris Rau (50-0), who ranked No. 1 in all divisions at 140 pounds, 4-3 in the final seconds of his match with an escape.

“That was my only shot,” said O’Guinn. “He is a good rider. I had to hit perfect. He started locking his hands, and I said, 'Free move, I have to get out of there right now.' ”

Senior Zach Corcoran (52-1) earned a clutch 3-2 victory at 135 pounds, while senior Connor Brancheau (160) scored a pin victory in the final minute against Dundee’s Zach Newhouse, which also proved to be vital.

“I knew we were going to have to go big to beat these guys, so when I had a chance to put him on his back to stick him, I took it,” Brancheau said.

Senior Drew Morris (171) had a pin win, and sophomore James Demember earned a pin with eight seconds left in his match at 103. Justin Melick won at 140 pounds with a 9-1 major decision victory.

“We won all the close matches. We couldn’t have wrote a better story,” Lake Fenton coach Vance Corcoran said.

During a match of several heroes, Poyner’s miracle match is the one the Blue Devils will never forget.

“It was a dream match,” said Lake Fenton assistant coach Amos Rinks. “You dream of that your whole life.”