St. Clair Shores

Lake Shore’s Moore places second at wrestling finals

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 125-pound grappler JacQuan Moore, left, finished second in his weight class in the 2013 MHSAA D-2 individual wrestling finals. Moore, a three-time state qualifier, is the first wrestler in the history of the Lake Shore program to earn All-State honors on two separate occasions. Wrestlers who place in the top eight earn All-State status. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes St. Clair Shores Lake Shore 125-pound grappler JacQuan Moore, left, finished second in his weight class in the 2013 MHSAA D-2 individual wrestling finals. Moore, a three-time state qualifier, is the first wrestler in the history of the Lake Shore program to earn All-State honors on two separate occasions. Wrestlers who place in the top eight earn All-State status.

AUBURN HILLS — In advancing to the finals of the 2013 Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 individual wrestling tournament, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore senior, 125-pound grappler JacQuan Moore, became the first two-time All-State honoree in the history of the Shorians’ program.

Moore advanced all the way to the 125-pound championship before falling to St. John’s junior Zach Hall, who captured his third straight D-2 title.

The match took place March 2 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

Moore ended his final season at 44-4. He placed sixth at 103 pounds as a sophomore.

“I thought I wrestled a good match, but I knew (Hall) was no joke. He’s a three-time state champ for a reason,” Moore said. “But just getting this far shows me how much hard work pays off.

“I just wanted to make the match my match and not give in to him. I wanted to put up a fight, and no matter how I won, I just wanted to win.”

Longtime Lake Shore coach Dominic Zombo was looking for Moore to become the first state champion to be crowned under his tutelage.

“Our goal was to get here, get in the finals and see what we could do,” Zombo said following the match. “He’s disappointed. ... I would have rather run into someone who was just really good to see what he could do.”

Moore, a three-time state qualifier — the top eight wrestlers in each weight division earn All-State honors — was understandably emotional following his state championship match. Being a senior, he reflected on his time with the Shorians, touching on how much dedication it takes to even make it to the state finals.

Moore said he and his teammates, including state qualifier Alex Placido-Curle, fought all season, when other guys were quitting the team, and battling injuries and illness.

“We had all kinds of things going on, but there was no giving up,” Moore said. “(Placido-Curle) won one match all year last year; now he’s a state qualifier. That’s how you know you can do good things if you work hard.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107. Follow Jason Carmel on Twitter.