Madison Heights

Lamphere wrestling team falls in D-2 regional; Madison falls to Lutheran Westland

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques Lamphere 125-pounder Austin Frederick has his hand raised in victory during the regional semifinals Feb. 13. The Rams fell to Warren Lincoln, which went on to win the regional title over Southfield High. Photo by Deb Jacques Lamphere 125-pounder Austin Frederick has his hand raised in victory during the regional semifinals Feb. 13. The Rams fell to Warren Lincoln, which went on to win the regional title over Southfield High.

MADISON HEIGHTS— Longtime Madison Heights Lamphere wrestling coach Russ McKenzie said his team had a solid 2012-13 season, but added that he thought the Rams could have done more.

“I haven’t really had a chance to sit down and assess the ‘team’ part of the season, but we fell a little short of our goals,” McKenzie said following Lamphere’s 44-21 loss to Warren Lincoln Feb. 13 in a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 regional semifinal. The match took place at Lamphere. The Abes went on to beat Southfield High in the final 54-9.

McKenzie, who also serves as Lamphere’s athletic director, said the season wouldn’t truly be over until the individual portion of the state tournament. D-2 individual regionals took place after press time.

Advancing to the individual regionals for the Rams were senior 112-pounder Andrew Gorman (48-2), who took first place in his weight class; senior 135-pounder Evan Reich (39-9), who finished third in his weight class; freshman 103-pound grappler Matt Guzynski (26-10), who finished third in his weight class; senior 189-pounder Rigels Ceri (38-10), who placed second in his weight class; and junior Trevor Gorman (43-5), who finished second in his weight class.

Lamphere ended the team portion of the season 26-7. The Rams won their second straight district title and ninth since 2003. Lamphere was looking for its first regional title since 2005.

McKenzie said the Rams should return 18 grapplers to next season’s team, adding Lamphere should also have a nice influx of freshmen.

“We always get good eighth-graders, so we should have a pretty solid group next year.”

Lamphere advanced to the D-2 regional after besting Hazel Park High 50-18 in a D-2 district final Feb. 7 at Hazel Park.

In other local wrestling news:
Madison Heights Madison’s team was in action at Sand Creek, where the Eagles took on Lutheran Westland in regionals Feb. 13 and fell 64-12. The host team went on to win the regional title.

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