Elite Company

Six Canton wrestlers to battle for individual titles beginning Thursday

BY ED WRIGHT
March 4, 2010, 2:55 p.m.

  The quest to be the best begins Thursday for the six Canton wrestlers who qualified for the Division 1 individual state meet  at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

  In reality, the quest is actually ending this week, considering the highly accomplished grapplers have been working toward this weekend for the past several months.

   "It's a great feeling to be able to make it back because it's the ultimate tournament that an individual wrestler can go to," said senior Waleed Faraj, a three-time state qualifier. "We've been training hard for four months -- really year-round -- for these three days."

  Faraj is one of four Chiefs who will take at least one year of state tournament experience into the three-day event. Seniors Donnie Watkins and Brent Winekoff are four-year qualifiers and senior Keith Zech is a two-time participant.

  "It's pretty cool walking in the parade of wrestlers when the Palace is close to being packed," said Watkins. "It's a good feeling because you know you're one of the few left out of all the kids who wrestled during the season."

  Winekoff (57-0) is one of just four Division 1 wrestlers who won more than 50 matches this season without losing.

  "Brent has been on a mission all year," said Canton coach Corey Mancuso. "He knows what he has to do to win a state title. Technically, on his feet he's the best wrestler in the state."

  Watkins, who carries a remarkable 51-3 record into the Palace, won't be satisfied with anything less than the top step of the podium on Saturday.

  "Expectations are high for Donnie, and they should be," said Mancuso. "He has some tough wrestlers in front of him, but if everything goes right, he can win a state title."

  Zech enjoyed a fantastic season, going 46-9 while winning a District title. He said the experience of competing at last year's individual state tournament should be valuable this weekend.

  "Just making was big for me last year," he said. "This year I want to place high on the podium. Last year I was a little nervous. I don't think I will be this year."

  "Keith's a cross-country runner, so that conditioning has really paid off this year," said Mancuso. "He's one of those kids that is not going to impress you with his style, but he's consistently in every match. He hasn't received a lot of recognition this year, but I expect him to place."

  Faraj will be tested right off the bat in his opening 125-pound match. His opponent is Holt's Ben Mattiesen, who has built a 51-1 record.

  "Waleed is a very good technical wrestler," said Mancuso. "I like to call him a gamer. He really comes to wrestle in the big matches. He has a tough first match, but he could really go far this weekend."

  The Chiefs' two first-time state-qualifiers are juniors Anthony Abro, who will take a gaudy 58-2 record into the 189-pound brackets; and Ben Poirer, a 215-pounder who went 47-15.

  "My goal is to make it to the finals then win it," said Abro, who has won a series of close matches this winter against highly ranked opponents.

  "Anthony's only two losses this year came against very good wrestlers," said Mancuso. "I think he has the potential to be the surprise of the tournament. He's proven that he knows how to win close matches, which is important when you get to this level of competition."

  Ben Poirer, who excelled on the defensive line for Canton's football team in the fall, may be the Chiefs' most improved wrestler this season -- regardless of how he performs at the Palace.  The junior has racked up a 47-15 record and third-place finish at 215 pounds at the Regional tournament just one year after getting knocked out  in the District round.

  "My goal this weekend is to be on the podium on Saturday," Poirer said. "But I've already met my season goal, which was to make it to the state meet."

  "Ben is a great example of what hard work can bring these kids," said Mancuso. "None of the coaches really saw this coming before the season, but he has worked hard -- not just during the season but during the off-season -- to make him self a better wrestler. Now he has a great chance to place."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.