Three Huron wrestlers at Palace for state finals
It?s high school wrestling?s biggest stage and three Division IV wrestlers from Rogers City will be competing on it. The Michigan High School Athletic Association individual state finals is the largest in America. Four divisions, with nearly 900 wrestlers from 300 schools, will be participating at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The three Huron state qualifiers are junior Justin Kelley (125 pounds, 33-18), sophomore Chris Rhode (189 pounds, 46-10), and freshman Dylan Centala (119 pounds, 48-2). The first round begins today at 2:45 p.m., following the Grand March at 2:30 p.m. Wrestling is scheduled through Friday and Saturday, with the finals to begin at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
ANDY KELLER earned Rogers City?s first state championship in 2002, ending a three-decade drought. The wait for the next individual state title holder probably won?t be as long with a young, up-and-coming group of talented wrestlers from Rogers City. All three this year are making their first appearance at state.
?We had a young team this year and those kids gave every ounce of energy, every time they went out on the mat,? said coach Pat Lamb. ?As a coach that?s all I could ask for.?
Centala earned a regional championship, but is on the side of the bracket with highly-ranked wrestlers, including sophomore Blake Gardner (55-6) of New Lothrop, who Centala lost to 9-7 at the Ithaca tournament.
Centala will wrestle junior Damon Childers (27-10) of Sandusky in the first round. Lamb said for Centala to continue the success he had during the regular season, the freshman needs to keep wrestling the way he has: ?With no fear.?
?IT?LL TAKE a total 100 percent effort every second on the mat,? Lamb said of Centala?s chances at a state title. ?Dylan?s given that to us all year, I don?t see why it should change now. I hate to single out one particular kid on a team, but Dylan is an animal. He just goes after it. He has more than exceeded my expectations this year,? said Lamb.
Kelley was a fourth at regionals but is coming off a bout with bronchitis.
?He is a little bit ill, but hopefully by Thursday he can shake that off a bit,? said Lamb. ?He was pretty sick when he wrestled at regionals, otherwise he would have done a lot better.?
Kelley wrestles junior Clinton Milliman (46-6) of Bronson in the first round today (Thursday). Kelley was sick at regionals, recovered and practiced well, before coming down with bronchitis.
RHODE TAKES on senior Ryan Maitland (50-2) of Lake Fenton in his first round match. Some of the wrestlers Rhode has competed against are in the bottom bracket. Rhode lost to senior Marcus Ebenhoeh of New Lothrop 8-7 but split with junior Jared McGeathy of Whittemore-Prescott, who Ebenhoeh
Senior Zack Galer of Onaway pinned Rhode twice, but was ruled ineligible with low grades and will not be participating in the finals. Lamb said Rhode wrestles like a senior and is quick for a 189-pounder.
?COACH (ANDY) Centala and I have looked at each other a couple of times this year, saying ?Can you believe a 189-pounder did that?? ? said Lamb. ?Chris has the total package. The only thing he is lacking is experience,? said Lamb. ?He?s already a force to be reckoned with.? The consolation round begins Friday at 8:30 a.m. Friday. A win on Thursday means a wrestler can sleep in.
Updates will be provided on the Michigan High School Athletic Association web site at www.MHSAA.com.