Chiefs knock off defending state
champs to capture own tourney

BY CHARLES ROTHWELL
Dec. 30, 2009, 11:55 p.m.

  Canton capped off a perfect 5-0 day of wrestling by defeating defending Division 1 state champion Rockford, 32-25. The final match was at 112 pounds. With Canton leading by only three points, the Chiefs were counting on sophomore Keshav Patel to wrap up the victory.

  Patel came out aggressive, worked hard for the entire six minutes and came away with a 12-4 major decision.

  Also winning matches against Rockford were Waleed Faraj (125), Connor Johnson (130), Mitch Wolski (135), Donnie Watkins (145), Brent Winekoff (160), Anthony Abro (215), and Ben Poirer (285). Watkins, Winekoff and Abro went 5-0 on the day and Winekoff was named the tournament's  outstanding wrestler.

  The victory over Rockford was the  third over a ranked team in the past couple of weeks. Canton beat No. 6 John Glenn on Dec. 19 and Tecumseh (No. 8 in Division 2) on Wednesday.

  In addition to the varsity team, Canton had several wrestlers entered in the junior varsity tournament that ran at the same time as the varsity tournament, and also had more experienced junior varsity wrestlers team up with similar kids from Tecumseh to form a Canton "B" team. Julia Salata (119) was Canton's lone JV champion. The Canton "B" team did not fair too well, but Marc Przbylski (119) did manage to go 2-2.

  John Glenn was missing the services of several starters due to injury, and dropped a couple very close matches to Adrian and Rockford. The Rockets bounced back in the final round to end up 3-2, finishing in fifth place.

  Going undefeated on the day were Steve Wakeford (112), Josh Austin (125), Anthony Pavlich (130), and Dustin Gajowiak (285). Wakeford's 5-0 day included a fall over Adrian's Zac Garcia, currently ranked No. 7  at 103 pounds by MichiganGrappler.com.

  A couple Rocket junior varsity wrestlers won their weight classes. Derrick Campbell continues his undefeated season at heavyweight, and Austin Hartford captured the 103-pound first-place medal.

ROUND 1
John Glenn 77, Canton "B" 4
Adrian 64, Monroe 3
Rockford 47, Riverview 20
Canton 51, Belleville 13
Tecumseh 46, Woodhaven 18
Saline 42, Monroe 31

ROUND 2
Adrian 34, John Glenn 33
Rockford 80, Canton "B" 0
Riverview 48, Monroe Jefferson 24
Canton 44, Saline 24
Tecumseh 47, Belleville 18
Monroe 47, Woodhaven 13

ROUND 3
John Glenn 63, Monroe Jefferson 15
Riverview 68, Canton "B" 12
Rockford 48, Adrian 18
Canton 35, Tecumseh 22
Monroe 36, Belleville 21
Saline 43, Woodhaven 32

ROUND 4
Rockford 35, John Glenn 30
Monroe Jefferson 54, Canton "B" 21
Adrian 51, Riverview 24
Canton 53, Woodhaven 18
Monroe 32, Tecumseh 32 (Tecumseh won on criteria)
Belleville 38, Saline 37

CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
FIRST PLACE: Canton 32, Rockford 25
THIRD PLACE: Adrian 45, Tecumseh 20
FIFTH PLACE: John Glenn 43, Saline 24
SEVENTH PLACE: Riverview vs. Monroe
NINTH PLACE: Belleville vs. Monroe Jefferson
ELEVENTH PLACE: Woodhaven defeated Canton "B"