It was a big week for the Wildcat grapplers after winning team regionals on Feb. 11 and sending seven wrestlers through to the state round after individual regionals on Feb. 14.
The team beat out Sterling Heights Stevenson 62-10 in the semi-finals before beating a very worthy Rochester Adams opponent, 40-24.
‘We knew that Adams was going to be a tough dual. The coach from Adams did a really nice job moving his lineup around trying to match up to us,? said Oxford’s Head Coach Paul McDevitt. ‘Pretty much every move he made worked for him, but we had some guys that really stepped up and did a great for us.?
Big winners included Ethan Kerin (152), Vinny Vackaro (135), Collin Campbell (135), and Wyatt Hardin (285).
‘They did a really good job at stepping up, winning matches and getting us points when we needed them,? McDeviit said. ‘Senior Jacob Winkleman did a great job for us as well.?
While this is their seventh district title in the last eight years, McDevitt noted that this year has been different because it’s been a rebuilding year, graduating a lot of seniors last year and not getting wrestlers they were expecting to return back.
‘It was one of the more gratifying wins of my career (as a coach) because this was such a young team that had faced a lot of adversity in the beginning (of the season). For these kids to put it together and wrestle the way they did, it really was a special night,? he added. ‘Most years, we’ve been the favorite (to win) and gunning in the districts and regionals with a higher expectation that we’re going to win a state championship. This year, we weren’t sure if we were going to make it out of districts.?
Having made it out of regionals and getting to ready to head to Battle Creek with their 17-7 record, McDevitt said his team’s eye is on the prize.
‘Of the eight teams that advanced (to the state tournament), we were seated eighth, which mean we draw the number one team in the state, Brighton,? he said. ‘Never has a number eight seed beaten a number one (seed), but we’re going into number one (seed), but we’re going into this with the mentality that we’re going to be the first.?
After taking eight guys to individual regionals, and watching seven advance to the state tournament, which will be March 5-7 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.
First place winners included Alex Hrisopoulos (125), Collin Campbell, (135) and Wyatt Harden (189). Ryan Miller (103) and Vinny Vackar (130) took the runner-up in, while Ryan Miller (103) Sergio Borg (112) and Adam Schlickenmeyer (285) took third place.
‘It was great, probably one of our best days of the year as far as the way we competed. We seemed to be peaking at the right time. It was exciting to get seven out of the eight,? McDevitt said. ‘Even Garret Tyrrell, who was our eighth man wrestled really good, just had a tough weight class and a bad place on the bracket for him to get through.?
McDevitt rejoiced that his team has the upcoming team state final match-up over the weekend because he said it’s helps prepare for individual states.
‘One more extra weekend of living the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat,? he noted. ‘Having that competition and striving for something and having that desire to try and go out and win for your team, it really does help you prepare for the individual tournament as well, so I am glad we have that extra weekend of competition.?
Overall, McDevitt said it couldn’t be done without his support staff. ‘My assistant coaches, Brandon Rank and Allen Wilthong, have done an exceptional job this year of really coaching this team and deserve a lot of the credit for our success of this year,? he said.