Sterling Heights

Sterling Heights High wrestling team wins second straight MAC Blue title, falls in district final

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The Sterling Heights High wrestling team won its second straight MAC Blue title this season. Pictured is Stallions 112-pound grappler Gerry Potapa, right. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The Sterling Heights High wrestling team won its second straight MAC Blue title this season. Pictured is Stallions 112-pound grappler Gerry Potapa, right.

The Sterling Heights High wrestling team will turn its attention to the individual portion of the Michigan High School Athletic Association state finals after suffering a tough loss to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley Feb. 6 in a Division 1 district final.

The match took place at Sterling Heights High.

The Stallions (23-6) were looking to build on a campaign in which they went 5-0 in winning their second straight Macomb Area Conference Blue Division title. Sterling Heights had won two straight MHSAA D-1 district titles, as well.

Stallions coach Shawn Murray said he’s proud of what his team’s done this season. Prior to the start of the season, Murray said Sterling Heights had the pieces to compete for another MAC Blue title.

The Stallions’ coach smiled as he thought about all the work his grapplers put into accomplishing that goal.

“It’s great to know you can have a strong showing over the course of a long season. These guys came in every day and worked very hard, and a division championship is one thing that shows them hard work pays off,” Murray said.

Sterling Heights and Chippewa Valley were tied at 35 during districts after all the matches concluded. The Big Reds won on a technicality, having scored one technical fall to none over the Stallions.

In reaching the final, Sterling Heights knocked off Utica Stevenson 49-28.

Sterling Heights High senior 189-pound wrestler Kevin Kwick is one of 10 seniors in the lineup who has been a part of those division- and district-title winning teams.

Kwick said taking the district crown was definitely something the team pushed for.

“We wanted to show everybody what Stallion wrestling is all about,” Kwick said.

The individual state tournament began with districts Feb. 9; the state finals are slated for Feb. 28-March 3 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

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