Lakers Wrestlers Hasenauer, Thompson Go Out With a Bang

It may not have ended with the results they had hoped for, but two senior wrestlers enjoyed themselves competing at the state individual finals this weekend.

Anthony Thompson lost in the first round after forcing 130-pounds class Hudsonville High's Marcos Diaz to triple overtime and also lost his next match, falling shy of placing. Avery Hasenauer placed sixth after beating two-time reigning Oakland Activities Association White Division 145-pounds class champion Nick Tomski of Farmington High, eventually falling to Detroit Catholic Central High's Nick Mason, who placed fifth.

Most wrestlers who come up on the wrong end of a decision storm off the mat or leave the mat with a scowl. Not Hasenauer. His career may have ended with the 7-5 loss to Mason in the Division 1 medal round, but Hasenauer walked off the mat with a smile.

“It’s life, you know?” he said. “If you can’t enjoy every moment of it, your struggles or victories, what’s the point?”

Coach Courtland Bartlett said Hasenauer’s best match was a loss to sophomore Jordan Cooks of Davison High, who eventually finished third. Cooks won Saturday morning on a 3-2 decision in overtime to secure Hasenauer’s all-state honors and set up the match with Mason.

“(Hasenauer) did a very good job and stayed in great position,” Bartlett said. “He wrestled a really good match. He stayed focused and he didn’t let the moment be greater than the opportunity — he didn’t let (Cooks) take control of the match.”

“I tried to go out with a bang,” Hasenauer said.

After the clock ran out on Hasenauer’s high school career on the mat, he grabbed his gear and looked out to the near-sellout crowd at The Palace of Auburn Hills to soak in the atmosphere.

“Whatever place you get as long as you go off the mat knowing you gave it your all, there’s nothing else you can ask for,” Hasenauer said. “It’s the best competition in the state. It’s just been awesome.”

Bartlett said there existed an element of the luck of the draw in the tournament, pointing to Thompson’s double-overtime loss against Diaz as an example.

“Anthony went into double-overtime with (Diaz), who eventually lost to (Detroit Catholic Central High’s Logan Marcicki) the class champion, and it’s funny because he just had an unfortunate draw,” Bartlett said. “Anthony wrestled his butt off, but that’s how things happen in our sport.”

The losses will not define the two seniors as they plan to graduate in the spring, Bartlett said.

“Wrestling just builds character. It’s a great honor to work with him. Avery and Anthony are those kids who makes you appreciate why you coach. Looking forward, wrestling has given them the tools to achieve any goal,” Bartlett said.

Correction: West Bloomfield wrestler Avery Hasenauer's name was misspelled in an earlier version of this story.