Farmington

Farmington Hills Harrison, Farmington High win titles

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Andrew Potter Farmington High’s Kienuwa Davis tries to take down Southfield High’s Delando Davis-Wright Feb. 9 at home in a Division 1 district final. The Falcons won 39-26. Photo by Andrew Potter Farmington High’s Kienuwa Davis tries to take down Southfield High’s Delando Davis-Wright Feb. 9 at home in a Division 1 district final. The Falcons won 39-26. Farmington wrestling district

FARMINGTON — It’s a simple motto that the Farmington High wrestling team strives to live up to this season.

“This whole time it has been, ‘Whatever it takes,’ and that’s what we go by,” senior captain Nimantha Herath said. “Whether it’s staying off your back or getting a pin in the final seconds. As long as we get a win, that’s all we want.”

The Falcons did just that in their Division 1 district Feb. 9 at home.

Farmington beat Southfield High 39-26 for its first district championship since 2008.

In the semifinal, Southfield beat Livonia Stevenson 41-30.

“I thought it was a complete team effort and everyone doing their own part,” Farmington coach Al Beyar said. “It was nice that everyone contributed in their own way, either getting a pin or not giving up a pin.”

Farmington won the first four matches of the final to go up 18-0, but Southfield stormed back by taking five of the next six bouts and cut the lead to 24-23.

Beyar said he wasn’t concerned at that point.

“I knew what was coming up and that we had a pretty solid lineup,” he said.

Farmington then won three of the final four matches for the title.

The win puts the Falcons at 17-7 overall, and they now take on Plymouth High Feb. 15 at Garden City High.

To start the season, Farmington’s goals included winning a district title, an Oakland Activities Association White Division title and a city championship.

“We accomplished two of those, so it was good that they were able to do that,” Beyar said. The Falcons beat North Farmington and Farmington Hills Harrison earlier in the season for the city title.

Senior Michael Rankin said he knew the team had it in it to accomplish what it has.

“It’s been crazy, and I can’t even describe the feeling,” he said. “It’s greater than words can explain. We’ve been fighting our butts off, and it’s just a good season so far.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1062. Follow Christian on Twitter.