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But so were all of the other wrestlers in the 285-pound weight class at the Division 4 individual state finals.

And while the atmosphere inside The Palace of Auburn Hills, where the Detroit Pistons play their home games, was electric and somewhat overwhelming, Mancelona senior Cody Sehl managed to keep his focus.

Sehl came into the finals with a 50-0 record.

But he lost in the semifinals, and then he was pinned in the consolation finals to end up fourth.

It began well enough.

The school's all-time leading career wins leader picked up a forfeit in the first round when his scheduled opponent, Joe Beauben of Hudson, couldn't wrestle.

Everything appeared to be on track when Sehl won the quarterfinal match by a fall in 3 minutes, 58 seconds over Shane Hettinger of Martin.

Hettinger's ability to hang with Sehl much longer than previous opponents had during the regular season did was an indication that the competition was much stiffer now.

One win away from the finals, Sehl saw his hopes for a state title dashed when eventual champion Tom Pellegrini of Harper Woods defeated him 4-2 in overtime.

Sehl rebounded in the consolation semifinals, beating Carnell Porter-Giles of New Haven by a fall in 2:22.

But he in turn was pinned by Rudy Spalding of Hesperia in the consolation finals by a fall in 57 seconds.

"Yes, it was disappointing for him," head coach Edward Schmidt said. "It's a real comedown to go into the finals looking for a gold medal and to come out of it in fourth place.

"I thought he had a good chance to win in the semifinals, but the other kid made a good move and that was it."

Sehl finished his senior season with a 53-2 record.

He won the Northern Michigan Championships at Gaylord, and he was the conference champion.

None of that can be taken from him.

"Cody had a great senior season," Schmidt said. "It didn't finish the way he wanted, or we wanted for him, but he will be remembered for the body of work and not just the end.

"We'll certainly miss Cody. He's been a true leader and a great example for the younger kids."