Canton senior Donnie Watkins placed third at 140 pounds.

Four Chiefs place at Division 1 individual state wrestling meet

BY ED WRIGHT
March 7, 2010, 10:35 a.m.

  Several months of relentless training paid off for four Canton wrestlers at this week's Division 1 individual tournament at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

  Seniors Brent Winekoff, Donnie Watkins and Keith Zech, along with junior Anthony Abro, all earned All-State honors after placing in top eight in their respective weight classes.

  Four-time state-qualifier Brent Winekoff was runner-up at 152 pounds, falling 7-6 in a dramatic final to East Kentwood's Deshawn Nelson (see related story on website).

  Four-time state-qualifier Donnie Watkins capped a brilliant career with a third-place showing at 140 pounds. After losing 8-5 to eventual state champion Matt Dietz in the semifinal round, Watkins dominated in the lower brackets, pinning Kalamazoo Central's Andrew Ermatinger in 1:52 before earning a 9-0 major-decision triumph over Portage Central's Adam Fahs in the third-fourth match.

  Watkins finished his senior season with a 55-4 record.

  Zech placed seventh at 160 pounds in his second state final appearance. The senior finished with a 49-11 mark after defeating Dearborn's Dino Berri, 3-1, in overtime in the seventh-eighth match.

  Abro put the wraps on an ultra-successful 62-4 season by placing fourth at 189 pounds. The junior went 4-2 in the three-day event and will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

  Anthony Abro closed out a brilliant junior season by placing fourth at 189 pounds.