PETOSKEY - Feb. 14, 2007 - Ogemaw Heights went toe-to-toe with seventh-ranked Petoskey in Wednesday's district championship match.

The Falcons and Northmen split the six matches they wrestled on the mat, with Ogemaw actually outscoring their playoff nemesis 30-28 in those contests. But a season-long problem the Falcons never could solve - empty weight classes at the lower weights - came back to haunt them as they gave up 12 free points to the Northmen. Petoskey took a 40-30 victory that ended the Falcons' team season short of its goal of a district title despite a sterling 18-4 dual meet record.

With the matchups starting at 112 pounds, the Falcons were immediately in a 6-0 hole. But Ogemaw got back in it thanks to decisions by Andrew Funsch (125) and Rob Goulette (140) and pins by Zach Jameson (145), Matt Franklin (160), Scott Kimball (189) and Carl Worthy.

After the heavyweight match Ogemaw trailed 34-30, but had to void their final weight class at 103, giving Petoskey the win.

Despite that handicap, the Falcons earned a 40-30 victory over another team that has been a thorn in their side, the Gaylord Blue Devils, who many had expected to reach the championship match to face their Big North Conference rival. The Falcons proved to be unbeatable in the middle and upper weights in winning the semifinal.

Funsch, Goulette and Josh Taylor (152) had wins by decision, while Jameson, Franklin, Corey Lambert (171), Kimball and Worthy all had pins.

Championship Match - Petoskey 40, Ogemaw 30

103: Alex Cannon (P) won by void

112: Dustin Boyer (P) won by void

119: Steve Brecheisn (P) pinned Kyle Scott (O), 0:55

125: Andrew Funsch (O) def. Kegan Arthur by dec., 7-3

130: Chris Burnett (P) def. Michael Lentz (O), by fall, 3:28

135: Wes Hoover (P) Bruce Vermillion by dec., 7-3

140: Rob Goulette (O) def. Kyle Buchalski (P) by dec., 6-3

145: Zach Jameson (O) def. Killian Viles (P) by fall, 5:05

152: Nathan Jons (P) def. Josh Taylor by dec., 8-0.

160: Matt Franklin (O) def. Matt Fitzek (P) by fall, 1:40

171: Matt Weston (P) def. Corey Lambert O) by fall, 1:31

189: Scott Kimball (O) def. Jacob Champion (P) by fall, 5:46

215: Carl Worthy (O) def. Jon Zoerhof (P) by fall, 2:40

285: Kevin Cranick (P) def. Kyle James by dec., 7-4

Semifinal - Ogemaw Heights 40, Gaylord 30 (Ogemaw winners)

125 - Andrew Funsch (O) def. Dan Sharrard (G) by dec., 4-2

140 - Rob Goulette (O) def. Laith Samarah (G) by major dec., 10-2

145 - Zach Jameson (O) def. Dan Sweetman (G) by fall, 5:31

152 - Josh Taylor (O) def. Tyler Finch (G) by dec., 8-4

160 - Matt Franklin (O) def. Mike Taubitz (G) by fall, 1:30

171 - Corey Lambert (O) def. Kelton Hervela (G) by fall, 2:50

189 - Scott Kimball (O) def. Kyle Hervela (G) by fall, 0:43

215 - Carl Worthy (O) def. Brian Bliss (G) by fall, 3:07