Canton's Alex Eimers (top) is pictured in a 119-pound match.

Hosts with the most

Shamrocks win CC Invite; Chiefs 5th

BY CHARLES ROTHWELL
Jan. 10, 2010, 11:55 p.m.

  The 46th Annual Detroit Catholic Central Wrestling Invitational was a huge success, especially for the home team.

  Fifteen teams participated, including five of the top eight teams in Division 1, and Catholic Central led the pack from start to finish.

  Weight-class champions for DCC were Ken Bade (103 pounds), Alec Mooradian (119) and Justin Melick (135). As occurred with many of the top wrestlers, Bade, Mooradian and Melick each wrestled one class lower than they have been for the first month of the season.

  Andrew Erickson (160) and Mike Kinville (215) placed second; and Todd Melick (125) and Doug Eldridge placed third. In all, 12 of 14 DCC wrestlers placed in the top six.

  Catholic Central's tremendous depth  was also apparent as the varsity "B" team placed three of 14 wrestlers and their third string 103-pounder placed sixth. Catholic Central's lone team goal heading into the season was to win the Division 1 state championship. Their resounding win in this tournament, coupled with the first-place finish in last month's Goodrich Tournament of Champions, shows they are clearly on course.

  It is interesting to note that 23 of the past winners of the DCC tournament have gone on to win the Division 1 state championship.

  Defending Division 1 champions Rockford came on strong as the tournament progressed, led by their five finalists. Individual champions were Jake Byers (130), Jake Dorulla (171), Jake Johnson (189) and Joe Stefanski (215); Austin Scott (140) finished second. Four other Rams placed, putting Rockford solidly in second place.

  Oxford edged out John Glenn and Canton for third place. Kyle Hill (125) and Matt Frish (140) were champions, and Hill was named Outstanding Wrestler for the lower weights.

  John Glenn finished fourth by placing eight of its 12 wrestlers in the top six. Three Rockets entered the championship round, but Steve Wakeford (112), Josh Austin (119) and Dustin Gajowiak (285) could not get that final win.

  The Rockets were bolstered by the addition of talented freshman Travis Mann (145) to the line-up, but were still without the services of state qualifier Zach Redden (160), who is recovering from injury.

  Canton was led once again by Brent Winekoff (152), who dominated his opponents en route to capturing first place and the Outstanding Wrestler award for the upper weights.

  Donnie Watkins (135), Keith Zech (171) and Anthony Abro (189) made it to the championship round, but lost to all-state wrestlers from DCC or Rockford. Although 13 of 14 grapplers won some matches, only seven placed in the top six.

FINAL STANDINGS: 1. Detroit Catholic Central, 218; 2. Rockford, 172; 3. Oxford, 143; 4. John Glenn, 134.50; 5. Canton, 134; 6. Tecumseh, 108.50; 7. Petoskey, 107; 8. Howell, 99; 9. Anchor Bay, 87; 10. Hazel Park, 57; 11. Belleville, 51.50; 12. Detroit Catholic Central "B", 40; 13. Warren Woods Tower, 39.50; 14. Fowlerville, 30; 15. Brother Rice, 16.

103 pounds: 1st: Ken Bade (CC) pinned Kyle Pillars (HW) in 1:48; 3rd: Keegan Cantara (OX) won by major dec. over TJ Fagan (CC), 8-0; 5th: Keshav Patel (C) dec. Kyle Gillies (JG), 5-1.

112: 1st: Alex Calandrino (HW) won by tech. fall over Steve Wakeford (JG), 19-3; 3rd: Cody Vandenhagan (HP) dec. Zack Colone (CC), 4-3; 5th: Jacob Peasley (OX) won by major dec. over Andrew Napieraj (BR), 11-3.

119: 1st: Alex Mooradian (CC) won by major dec. over Josh Austin (JG), 9-1; 3rd: Steven Ferguson (OX) won by injury default over Collin Lesko (TC); 5th: Jacob Buchalski (PT) dec. Chris Aiken (WT), 10-7.

125: 1st: Kyle Hill (OX) dec. Ben Donovan (AB), 9-5; 3rd: Todd Melick (CC) dec. Waleed Faraj (C), 9-3; 5th: Adrian Quintera (HP) dec. Riley Hanson (CC), 3-1.

130: 1st: Jake Byers (RO) dec. Jeff Jenkins (TC), 8-6; 3rd: Anthony Pavlich (JG) dec. Chuck Joseph (CC), 8-2; 5th: Tyler Schneider (BV) dec. Nick Mason (CC), 3-0.

135: 1st: Justin Melick (CC) dec. Donnie Watkins (C), 3-1; 3rd: Kegan Arthur (PT) pinned Matt Thompson (JG) in 2:54; 5th: Ronnie Bechtol (TC) pinned Drew Scogg (RO) in 2:03.

140: 1st: Matt Frisch (OX) dec. Austin Scogg (RO), 5-0; 3rd: Doug Eldridge (CC) won by injury default over John Popham (WT); 5th: Travis Rife (HW) dec. C.J. Tripp (TC), 4-3.

145: 1st: Stevie Sattler (AB) won by major dec. over Ben Ralston (OX), 13-4; 3rd: Bruce Carlstrom (RO) dec. Alex Cannon (PT), 3-2; 5th: Travis Mann (JG) won by major dec. over Sean O'Keefe (C), 13-4.

152: 1st: Brent Winekoff (C) won by tech. fall over Tyler Smyley (PT), 27-12 in 4:52; 3rd: Matt Willming (AB) dec. Cin'Qun Deaham (HP), 4-2; 5th: Joe Leavens (HW) pinned Gerid Gee (CC) in 40 seconds.

160: 1st: Zach Manhugh (PT) won by major dec. over Andrew Erickson (CC), 18-4; 3rd: Tom Carney (TC) dec. Robby Gorton (RO), 10-4; 5th: Cody Barbour (WT) dec. Shames Delahaye (BV), 3-2.

171: 1st: Jake Dorulla (RO) dec. Keith Zech (C), 9-2; 3rd: Matt Schodowski (AB) dec. Anthony Patritto (HW), 5-2; 5th: Kameron Jones (JG) won by major dec. over Jack Barrie (OX), 10-2.

189: 1st: Jake Johnson (RO) won by major dec. over Anthony Abro (C), 12-3; 3rd: Dominic Wiggins (HP) dec. Jake Kisro (PT), 7-3; 5th: Matt Anger (OX) dec. Miles Trealout (CC), 2-1.

215: 1st: Joe Stefanski (RO) dec. Mike Kinville (CC), 9-5; 3rd: Prescott Line (OX) dec. Adam Coon (FL), 9-3; 5th: Forrest Sampson (BV) dec. Jake Burlager (HP), 4-2.

285: 1st: Kyle Connors (TC) dec. Dustin Gajowiak (JG), 5-2; 3rd: Jake Bansaszak (RO) dec. Dave Knuth (CC), 3-1; 5th: Jim Walsh (HW) dec. Dave Vanoverbeke (AB), 5-4.