KLAA South matches get
off to exciting start

BY CHARLES ROTHWELL
Jan. 14, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

  Team competition within the KLAA South got off to a surprising start at Livonia Churchill Wednesday evening. Each team earned a win -- maybe -- but I am not sure anyone went home totally satisfied.

  Churchill coach Marty Altounian was short a couple experienced wrestlers due to illness, but still had hopes that his very young team could upend Wayne Memorial. Those hopes were quickly dashed as the Wolfpack started the dual with two quick pins, then cruised to a 44-21 victory.

  Next up for the Chargers was last year's KLAA South champion, Livonia Franklin. How could a team with eight first-year wrestlers (seven freshmen and one junior) compete with the mighty Patriots?

  What promised to be a blowout loss ended up to be a very exciting win. Franklin was short-staffed as well, and had to void the 152-pound weight class. In addition, a clerical error was discovered on the Franklin weigh-in sheet and its wrestler at 119 pounds was disqualified.

  Still, the Patriots appeared in control after 12 matches, winning six by fall. However, Churchill's Curtis Castleberry pinned his overmatched opponent within a minute at 171 pounds, then first-year wrestler Mike Harp hit a beautiful throw and pinned his opponent to gain the victory.

  Franklin's first match of the evening was against Plymouth. The young Wildcat squad was hoping for the upset victory and got off to a good start, leading 18-8 after six matches. However, consecutive falls by Steve Tuyo, Paul Hanni and Jordan McGuire propelled the Patriots to a 37-27 victory...maybe. The impact, if any, of the weigh-in sheet error discovered in the subsequent match has not yet been determined.

  Plymouth bounced back in its next match against Wayne Memorial. Keyed by their strong light weights, the Wildcats won six of the first seven matches and nine total to earn a 40-19 victory.

  Although the Wolfpack must be pleased with the way they handled Livonia Churchill, the loss to Plymouth will make one of Wayne's team goals -- improve upon its fifth-place finish in the KLAA South -- difficult to achieve. Wayne still has to face John Glenn, Canton and Livonia Franklin.

189: Dimitrius Renfroe (WM) pinned Mike Harp in 1:47;
215: Nate Cavanaugh (WM) pinned Manny Haddad in 2:15;
285: John Shekell (LC) dec. Chris Bowie, 2-0;
103: Pablo Flores (WM) dec. Jon Locklear, 6-2;
112: Jacob Meadows (LC) dec. Tristan Jarosicwicz, 10-4;
119: Darryl Ison (WM) tech. fall over Jake Hale, 17-1;
125: James Locklear (LC) dec. Micheil Hood, 8-3;
130: Devon Adams (WM) pinned Addel Yaffai;
135: Cody Allen (WM) dec. Ben Leck, 7-2;
140: Jonny Bannoura (LC) pinned Kyle Szalai;
145: Anwar Oliver (WM) dec. Tyler Farnstrom, 9-2;
152: Jalen Jones (WM) won by void;
160: Brandon Whittenburg (WM) dec. Cody Carrier, 2-0;
171: Curtis Castleberry (LC) pinned Amanda Prough in 1:45.

189: Zach Leuenberger (LF) major dec. over Brendan Varner, 13-5;
215: Nick Simmons (LF) major dec. over Brett Keys, 15-5;
285: Wally Eppler (P) pinned Omar Haymour in 4:40;
103: Shadi Jammoul (P) pinned Jack Newa in 45 seconds;
112: Alec Breckenridge (P) dec. Dan Martinez, 4-3;
119: Said Youssef (P) dec. Gabe Martinez, 3-2;
125: Steve Tuyo (LF) pinned Chase Kallil in 4:00;
130: Paul Hanni (LF) tech. fall over Ziad Tamimi, 19-3;
135: Jordan McGuire (LF) pinned Brett Echols in 4:35
140: Jimmy Ahearn (P) dec. Avery Opperman, 8-7;
145: Josh Hatfield (LF) dec. Brandon Crowther, 6-5;
152: Jackson Chalmers (P) won by void;
160: Jon Roos (LF) tech. fall Robbie Barackman, 23-8;
171: Alex O'Connor (LF) major dec. Curtis Crosier, 10-2.

215: Brett Keys (P) major dec. Nate Cavanaugh, 15-4;
285: Chris Bowie (WM) dec. Wally Eppler, 5-3;
103: Shadi Jammoul (P) pinned Pablo Flores, 1:21;
112: Trey Berry (P) dec. Tristan Jarosicwicz, 8-5;
119: Said Youssef (P) won by injury default over Darryl Ison;
125: Chase Kallil (P) pinned Micheil Hood in 2:49;
130: Ziad Tamimi (P) dec. Devon Adams, 10-6;
135: Cody Allen (WM) dec. Jimmy Ahearn, 7-1;
140: Anwar Oliver (WM) pinned Brett Echols in 3:07;
145: Jalen Jones (WM) major dec. Brandon Crowther, 13-2;
152: Ryan Schultz (P) dec. Kevin Newborn, 10-3;
160: Robbie Barackman (P) dec. Brandon Whittenburg, 8-4;
171: Curtis Crosier (P) pinned Amanda Prough in 1:27;
189: Dimitrius Renfroe (WM) dec. Brendan Varner, 8-2.

215: Nick Simmons (LF) pinned Dillon Morantes in 1:23;
285: John Shekell (LC) pinned omar Haymour in 1:20;
103: Jon Locklear (LC) dec. Jack Newa, 9-7;
112: Jacob Meadows (LC) dec. Dan Martinez, 11-5;
119: Jake Hale (LC) won by disqualification;
125: Steve Tuyo (LF) pinned James Locklear in 35 seconds;
130: Paul Hanni (LF) pinned Addel Yaffai in 15 seconds;
135: Jonny Bannoura (LC) dec. Jordan McGuire, 5-4 (OT);
140: Avery Opperman (LF) pinned Ben Leck in 29 seconds;
145: Josh Hatfield (LF) pinned Devin Hawkins in 33 seconds;
152: Tyler Farnstrom (LC) won by void;
160: Matt Roos (LF) pinned Cody Carrier in 1:10;
171: Curtis Castleberry (LC) pinned Alex O'Connor in 59 seconds;
189: Mike Harp (LC) pinned Zach Leuenberger in 1:16.