Cardinal wrestlers win first district title in school history
The Onaway High School wrestling team accomplished something last week that no Cardinal squad before it had ever accomplished ? winning a district championship. The Cards knocked off Charlevoix, 71-6, in the semifinals, then defeated the host Ironmen, 40-30, in the final, at the district tourney last Thursday at Mancelona. Though their season came to an end at Wednesday?s regional tournament, the district title gives what is a very young squad something to cherish, and build upon, heading into the future.
Every Cardinal athlete who stepped on the mat last Thursday wrestled hard and almost all of them earned the team points in either in the semi, the final, or both. The title truly was a total team effort. The Red Birds earned 30 points by void in their semifinal match with Charlevoix, but the Cardinals who did wrestle in that one wrestled well. Six of them recorded pins, and another beat his man by 19 points.
The final match against Mancelona was much more competitive. Coach Mark Grant, who when looking at the match-ups ahead of time figured the match would be extremely close, described it this way:
?Massie Huffman (103 pounds) put her body through more than most could stand. Though pinned, the heart she showed lit the fuse for the gauntlet of wrestlers to follow her performance. After Morgan Robins (112) pinned his opponent for the third time this season to tie things, Aaron Gray (119), who hadn?t wrestled all season, stepped in for Tommy McDade (flu), and recorded a major decision.
?Alex Fullerton (up a weight class at 125) followed that with a pin, after which Christian Tollini (130) capitalized on an opportunity to avenge a mid-season loss to spread our lead. Gus Robins (135) dropped a decision, but only gave up three points, while Gary Bryan had to wrestle an extremely tough opponent at 140 and was pinned.
?Mike Millitello (145), who hadn?t wrestled since December, did a great job of only giving up three points in his match, and we took things over after that. After Bryer McGinn (152) pinned his man with just one second left in the first period, Mancelona shifted their wrestlers in attempt to defeat Trey Leach (160), but Trey won the match anyway.
?This forced them to wrestle a smaller kid against Beau March (171) and, in being taken to the mat by Beau, his opponent suffered a small break in his elbow and thus had to forfeit. The match then came
?He executed that strategy like a seasoned veteran, securing the title for Onaway. For him to maintain his composure under those circumstances was incredible and that moment for this team will be remembered forever. This was the first night we were able to put our entire team on the mat to compete as a single unit, and how great a night it was. The way these kids have fought through adversity and come together is a tribute to them.?
The Cardinals extended their run by winning the regional semifinal over Munising on Wednesday at Manistique, before seeing their season end against Iron Mountain in the regional championship. It was season that will not soon be forgotten by the wrestlers, and their coaches, families, and fans. More on the regional results in next week?s Onaway Outlook.