Macomb Township

Dakota wrestling wins regional title; headed to quarterfinals

By Mark Vest
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Erin Sanchez Macomb Dakota’s Kenny Seelye, top, wrestles against an opponent from Grosse Pointe North in a regional semifinal matchup. Dakota won that match and proceeded to defeat Chippewa Valley to capture the program’s first regional title. Photo by Erin Sanchez Macomb Dakota’s Kenny Seelye, top, wrestles against an opponent from Grosse Pointe North in a regional semifinal matchup. Dakota won that match and proceeded to defeat Chippewa Valley to capture the program’s first regional title.

Macomb Dakota wrestling captured the program’s first-ever regional championship via a 64-3 victory against Chippewa Valley Feb. 13 at Anchor Bay High School.

Prior to this season, Dakota had never made it past districts. But this year is a different story for the Cougars, as they are one of eight Division 1 teams remaining and are heading to the state quarterfinals.

Coach Ed Skowneski was pleased to see his team make some new history for the program.

“It feels really great,” he said following the Cougars’ victory. “We set a goal at the beginning of the year, (and) we’ve been working towards it. Today was the day we needed to buckle down and get after it, and they really did. These kids are really good kids. I love every single one of them. They’ve been working hard all year long, and they deserve this.”

Although Dakota’s program has gone somewhere it never has before, Skowneski does not want complacency to set in with his wrestlers.  He wants his team to make the most of the opportunity that awaits them in Battle Creek.

“We’ve got to keep building, keep working,” Skowneski said. “This isn’t where we wanted to finish. We want to finish at team states and continue to wrestle there.”

In advancing to the quarters, Dakota defeated Grosse Pointe North 77-3 in a regional semifinal matchup.

The Cougars are scheduled to compete at the quarterfinals at 3:15 p.m. Feb. 22 against Hartland at Kellogg Arena in Battle Creek. Go to www.candgnews.com and click the Sports tab for results.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mark Vest at mvest@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1112. Follow Mark on Twitter.