MASON — For as long as Derek Badgley has known, the Mason wrestling program has been very successful.
The senior has been happy to have a hand in that success during his strong four-year varsity career during which he’s been a fixture in the lineup and an individual state placer.
Badgley was among the many contributors who helped No. 4-ranked Mason capture a Division 2 regional championship in its home gym on Wednesday. Mason claimed its third regional crown in five years with a 60-17 victory over Chelsea.
The win sends Mason to the final stages of the team state tournament at Wings Events Center in Kalamazoo next week.
“We knew we had a shot all year,” said veteran Mason coach Brian Martel, who recently earned his 600th career coaching win. “In wrestling, with 14 weight classes, everything has to come together at the right time. Getting a couple kids back from injury and filling our our full lineup the way we’ve wanted to all year (is great). It’s not that we didn’t have a good year — we went undefeated — but this is where we have to be peaking and I think we are right now.