KALAMAZOO - Lowell did what no wrestling team has ever done in the history of the Michigan High School Athletic Association Saturday afternoon at the Wings Event Center.

The Red Arrows defeated Goodrich 29-23 in the Division 2 state championship match, giving Lowell its sixth consecutive championship.

Saturday’s championship ranks among its most challenging. The match came down to the final bout, featuring Lowell senior Jeff Leach against Goodrich’s Carson Turnbow at 135-pounds.

Leach recorded a 9-2 victory to give his team the title – the program’s ninth overall.

It was Lowell’s closest title bout since the Red Arrows defeated St. Johns 35-34 back in 2014, which was the first of the six titles. The ensuing four championship bouts were won by 11 points or more.

“People were telling me you got this, but I was really nervous,” Leach said. “My coaches were reminding me, ‘Surrender the outcome, leave it all on the mat. This is your last year, you don’t want to regret.’

“It makes a lot of us happy that we are able to keep going on, hopefully winning more and more and the years after.”

The Red Arrows dominated early, winning the first four matches and building up a 17-0 lead. But Goodrich answered, capturing the next four and closing the gap to within 17.

But Lowell got wins from Ramsy Mutchler (103) and Nicholas Korhorn (112) to stretch its lead to 26-13. The Red Arrows never trailed in the match, but Goodrich didn’t give up, either. Goodrich’s Cameron Macklem, Carson Richards and Caleb Teague all won bouts and closed to within 27-24 with only the 135-pound class remaining.

The Red Arrows had to win the finale to keep its streak alive. The first tiebreaker goes to the team with the most wins, and if Goodrich had won, that would have been the team’s eighth of the match

But Leach was having none of it. Leach built up a 5-0 lead heading into the third and closed strong.

“It’s amazing,” Lowell coach R.J. Boudro said. “I’m just really proud of our kids and parents and our fans and our community. To be able to say that we are the only team, community to ever do this is something special.

“I’m just really proud of (Leach). He’s a great kid. They don’t come better than Jeff Leach.”

Also winning matches for Lowell included Avery Mutschler (103), James Fotis (145) and Doak Dean (152). Austin Boone, a two-time state individual champion, received his second forfeit of the day via forfeit at 160.

The Red Arrows advanced to the finals after defeating Gaylord 34-24 in Saturday’s semifinal match.

Next up is the state individual tournament, which will be held next weekend at Ford Field in Detroit. Avery Mutchler (135) and Nicholas Kornhorn (103) were both finished runner-up a year ago for the Red Arrows and are among the Lowell wrestlers who have qualified.