Wrestling

Clinton Township Chippewa Valley’s Kenny Snyder, right, dumps his opponent March 1 in the individual state final at Ford Field.

Published March 4, 2019

Local wrestlers battle Michigan’s best at state finals

DETROIT –– Grapplers from all over the state of Michigan gathered March 1-2 at Ford Field to battle in the individual wrestling state championships.

Madison Heights Bishop Foley senior Kendel Taylor, left, wrestles against an opponent from Whitehall High during a state final match March 2 at Ford Field. Taylor came away as a Division 3 state champion.

Published March 2, 2019

Madison - Park News

Bishop Foley senior wins individual wrestling state title

DETROIT — Madison Heights Bishop Foley wrestler Kendel Taylor became the school’s first state champion since 1971 with a 9-3 victory against Kayleb Venema of Whitehall High in a Division 3 state final match at Ford Field March 2.

Published March 2, 2019

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Fitzgerald's Ghadiali ends wrestling program's state championship drought

WARREN — Warren Fitzgerald senior 215-pound grappler Taye Ghadiali ensured he would always be remembered in the halls of the school at 9 Mile and Ryan Road. Ghadiali bested Goodrich High senior Honour Kline 11-4 March 2 to win a Division 2 state championship.

Published March 2, 2019

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Tower's Mayer, Embree capture D-2 wrestling championships

DETROIT — Warren Woods Tower senior 125-pound wrestler Chaise Mayer is no stranger to the big stage. As a member of the Titans wrestling team, he’s made multiple trips to the team state finals. Mayer himself has also wrestled in three individual state championship matches.

Published March 2, 2019

Rochester Post

Rochester’s Kavan Troy caps off undefeated season with a D-1 state title

DETROIT -- One year ago, Rochester High’s Kavan Troy failed to make it out of the district portion of the Division 1 individual wrestling playoffs. Now, with a pin over Davidson High’s Aden Williams with 53 seconds left in the third period, Troy is a D-1 state champion at 103 pounds.

Published March 2, 2019

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Farmington High’s Donovan King wins D-2 heavyweight wrestling title

DETROIT –– It’s hard to win an individual wrestling state title, and it's even harder to win one with a torn ACL.

Published March 2, 2019

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Dakota wrestling ends season with two state champs

DETROIT — The Macomb Dakota wrestling team capped off another strong season with two Cougars grapplers winning individual state championships. The 2019 MHSAA individual finals took place March 1-2 at Ford Field.

Published March 1, 2019

Mount Clemens - Clinton - Harrison Journal

L’Anse Creuse wrestling has another strong campaign

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — This winter has seen the Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrestling team add to its collection of banners and trophies. Among the list of accomplishments, the Lancers finished with a 16-3 dual meet record and won Macomb Area Conference White Division dual meet and tournament championships. L’Anse Creuse just missed out on a trip to team regionals, losing to Clinton Township Chippewa Valley Feb. 7 on tiebreaker criteria in the Division 1 postseason.

Farmington High’s Donovan King prepares for the state wrestling tournament March 1-2 at Ford Field in Detroit. King is competing in the 285-pound weight class.

Published February 26, 2019

Farmington Press

Donovan King eyeing D-2 state wrestling title

FARMINGTON — When Farmington High’s Donovan King placed fifth at the state individual wrestling tournament as a sophomore in 2017, he knew a state championship wasn’t out of reach.

Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest senior Josh Fultz is heading to the individual wrestling state finals March 1-2 at Ford Field. Fultz is the first grappler from Northwest to qualify for states since 2006.

Published February 26, 2019

Rochester Post

Fultz’s fight pays off with Ford Field trip

ROCHESTER HILLS — Josh Fultz has had to overcome a lot in his four years with the Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest wrestling team, and it’s finally paid off.

Fraser High sophomore Ryan Embry faces off against an opponent from Clinton Township Chippewa Valley during a Division 1 district semifinal Feb. 7.

Published February 26, 2019

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Fraser High wrestling coach looks back on season

FRASER — For the first time since 2013, Fraser High’s wrestling program came away from a season with no team titles.

Published February 26, 2019

Grosse Pointe Times

Grosse Pointe North’s Hamilton gearing up for state wrestling tournament

GROSSE POINTE –– For most state qualifiers, wrestling beings at a young age. That isn’t the case for Grosse Pointe North’s Raymond Hamilton, as he didn’t begin wrestling until the eighth grade. However, that hasn’t stopped him from reaching the state tournament in two consecutive seasons.

Macomb Dakota 160-pound wrestler Eli Andary readies to lock up in a Feb. 13 regional match. The Cougars advanced to the state quarterfinals for the third straight year and fifth time in six seasons.

Published February 25, 2019

Macomb Township Chronicle

Dakota wrestling coach looks back on latest run to quarterfinals

In recent matchups, Brighton High has had Macomb Dakota wrestling’s number.

The Bulldogs bested the Cougars in a 2018 Division 1 state semifinal. Brighton earlier in this regular season knocked off Dakota too.

The Bulldogs’ latest win over the Cougars came in a 60-10 victory in a D-1 quarterfinal in Kalamazoo Feb. 22.

Published February 21, 2019

C&G Newspapers

Local grapplers shift their sights to Ford Field

METRO DETROIT — Months of hard work, sweat and determination will finally come to fruition for many local high school wrestlers.

Published February 21, 2019

West Bloomfield Beacon

West Bloomfield High’s Bashi looking for state title

WEST BLOOMFIELD –– Ever since Austin Bashi began wrestling at West Bloomfield High his sophomore year, winning a state title has been on his mind. Now in his senior year, Bashi is looking to make that dream become a reality. Wrestling in the 103-pound weight class a season ago, Bashi was able to finish fourth at the Division 1 state tournament.

Published February 19, 2019

Woodward Talk

Ferndale High wrestling squad concludes season at regional final

FERNDALE — The team portion of Ferndale High’s wrestling season came to an end with a 50-30 loss to Redford Union in a Division 2 regional semifinal Feb. 13 at Warren Woods Tower.

Published February 19, 2019

Farmington Press

Farmington High wrestling excited about the future

Before the season started, the Farmington High wrestling coaches knew they had a young team, but they wanted to achieve two major goals: win the city meet and take home a district championship trophy.

The Falcons were able to do both, as they knocked off rivals North Farmington and Farmington Hills Harrison for the city title, while beating Orchard Lake St. Mary’s and Auburn Hills Avondale to claim a Division 2 district title.

Published February 19, 2019

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Local wrestling squads battle in D-1 regional round

CLINTON TOWNSHIP — For most Macomb area teams, the path to a Division 1 regional wrestling title goes through Macomb Dakota.

Published February 18, 2019

Birmingham - Bloomfield Eagle

Birmingham Seaholm wrestling eliminated in D-1 team regional

BIRMINGHAM — The Birmingham Seaholm wrestling team portion of the season came to an end Feb. 13 in a Division 1 team district tournament hosted by the Maples. Coach Neil Tuomi’s team fell in the first round to Hartland High 63-16.