Will Ohman, co-captain of the Sault High Blue Devils wrestling team, booked his ticket to Ford Field and the state championship on Saturday during Individual regional competition in Division 2 in Cadillac.
The Junior in the 138-pound weight class with an impressive 44-4 record, was seeded fifth in an eight-man bracket. The top four would advance to the state competition.
His first opponent was Adoniah Delgado from Linden High School. It was a close match, but Ohman got a two point reversal in the third period to win with a score of 6-5. In the semifinal round, Ohman saw a familiar face, Matt Shaffer from Bay City John Glenn. Ohman and Shaffer met up in the semifinals last week in Gaylord, with Shaffer sending Ohman to the consolation side of the bracket.
With five seconds left in this weekend’s match, Ohman got a takedown, scoring two points to win, 3-2. That move sealed the deal. Ohman was headed to Ford Field. In the finals round, Ohman wrestled Cole Riedel from St. Johns and came up short, losing the match by points.
Ohman’s second-place finish is one to be proud of. The last time Sault High sent a wrestler to the individual state finals was when Chase Bouschor qualified as a heavyweight during the 2015-2016 season. Ohman has had an impressive high school wrestling career, with a two-year combined record of 81-16. During his freshman year the school did not offer wrestling because there was a lack of wrestlers interested in the sport.
During his sophomore year, he recruited some friends and there were seven wrestlers on the team roster. This year, the team started out with 18 competitors, and they had a winning record, including winning the Straits Area Conference team title.
Ohman started wrestling in the first grade, and he, along with two of his teammates, volunteer their time coaching in the local youth wrestling program.
He is is the son of Mitch and Anne Ohman, and he is coached by Jacinto Arreola, Brendin Cryderman, Gordi Campbell and Matt Vieira. Will’s strength, dedication and work ethic have brought him to this point. He will join 27 other wrestlers from the UP who all qualified for the biggest individual competition of the season.
