Three Hurons advance to state wrestling finals March 6
by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor
A freshman, sophomore, and junior will represent the Huron wrestling program this year at the state finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills, March 6-8. Freshman Dylan Centala (119 pounds, 48-2), sophomore Chris Rhode (189 pounds, 46-10), and junior Justin Kelley (125 pounds, 33-18) are Rogers City?s 2003 state qualifiers, and can already be listed among the top 16 wrestlers in Division IV, in their respective weight classes. Centala won all three of his matches at the individual regional meet at Ithaca, to earn a tournament championship.
RHODE AND KELLEY, two of the Huron captains, both earned fourth place finishes, just above the cutoff line for athletes attempting to qualify for state. With a loss at team regionals to Ishpeming-Westwood, 44-24, at Munising February 19, the three Rogers City wrestlers are the only ones left in the Michigan High School Athletic Association tournament. Ishpeming-Westwood defeated Iron Mountain and advanced to the team championships at the Kellogg Center in Battle Creek. As a team, the Hurons finished with a dual record of 21-9.
CENTALA, WHO is seeded on the tough side of the bracket, will compete against sophomore Damon Childers (27-10) of Sandusky in his first match. Centala won his first matches at the regional tournament on technical falls (18-2, 5:43 and 18-2, 4:00). The regional title belonged to Centala when junior Ben Cannon of Freeland defaulted because of an elbow injury. Kelley?s first match of the state finals will be against junior Clinton Milliman (44-5) of Bronson.
Kelley was 2-2 at regionals, with both losses to junior Andrick Pruitt of Freeland, one of which was in overtime, 4-2. Kelley defeated Scott Sanders of Whittemore-Prescott, 3-0, and Cody Hanson of Mio, 4-3.
At 189 pounds, Rhode has been matched up against senior Ryan Maitland (50-2) of Lake Fenton. At Ithaca, Rhode defeated Chris Johnson of Morley-Stanwood, 9-3, but lost to Zack Galer of Onaway, 16-1. Rhode came back with a 12-4 decision, setting up the match for third place, which he lost to Jeremy McGeathy of Whittemore-Prescott, 7-4. Seniors Zach Centala and Andy Keller were the 2002 state qualifiers.
THREE HURONS didn?t make the cut at Ithaca. Freshman Austin Fairbanks (112 pounds) lost his final match by one point to Sam McKinley, 8-7. A victory would have made it four going to state. He won his first match against Adam Greenly, 5-4, before losing his final two.
One of the heartbreaking stories of the regional tournament is an injury to sophomore Joshua Christ, who had to be considered a potential state placer. Christ was advised by doctors and coaches, especially with two seasons ahead of him, that it was in his best interest not to participate in any more competition this season because of a hip injury. Christ won his match at team regionals February 19, 3-2, but didn?t wrestle at Ithaca. He had been pinning his way through the competition.
?I feel he would have done well,? said coach Pat Lamb if Christ had made state. Freshman Cody Wenzel lost his first match to an undefeated wrestler and his second to Jason Peffer of Pine River.
THREE HURONS won matches against Ishpeming-Westwood, including Mackenzie
The other points were earned on voids. Lamb is hoping more wrestlers come out for the program next season. The more weight classes filled, the better Rogers City?s chances of moving on to Battle Creek.
A LIMITED NUMBER of reserved seat tickets for the finals went on sale Monday. The event is the largest high school wrestling final tournament in America, with 14 weight classes in each of four divisions, totaling 896 wrestlers from more than 300 schools. Action begins with the Grand March and Round 1 at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, and concludes with the Finals at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8.