- Michigan
D1 WRESTLING: Detroit Catholic Central ends decade of excellence with eighth title in 10 years
KALAMAZOO — Mitch Hancock demands excellence for everyone involved in Novi Detroit Catholic Central wrestling program — and nothing short of it.
Excellence best describes the Shamrocks over the past decade-plus.
Top-ranked Catholic Central finished unbeaten against Michigan schools for the third straight season, downing second-ranked and previously-unbeaten Brighton, 34-19, in the Division 1 state finals Saturday at Wings Arena.
The Shamrocks (26-1) competed in the finals for the eighth time in 10 seasons, made the Final Four for the ninth time in 10 campaigns and reached at least the Elite Eight for the 11th time in 12 seasons since Hancock became head coach.
The program has also been to the state tournament in 12 of the last 13 years. In the past 11 seasons, CC owns seven state titles, one state runner-up, one final four and one other state quarterfinals appearances.
This year, CC is ranked 10th in the nation by one publication.
“There are expectations at Catholic Central and they are high,” admitted Hancock. “You have to excel in the classroom, pray to God and work hard on the athletic surface. It’s all bout hard work here and I think that is what makes us so successful.”
Catholic Central won nine of the 14 matches including a 15-0 advantage to start the meet. The Shamrocks won three by decision, five by major decision and one by technical fall.
“Winning three in a row is amazing” said 152-pounder Kevon Davenport, who won his match by decision. “We have worked so hard for this. It’s not easy to win here.”
Catholic Central led 29-3, but saw Brighton close to within 29-16 thanks to a 13-0 run.
“I think Brighton is a great program and Tony (Greathouse) is one of the best coaches in the state of Michigan,” added Hancock. “I have respect for what they do there. Tony has done a great job building them up and making them a state power. We beat another great program today."
Brighton made its third state finals appearances in five seasons and lost to Catholic Central for the second straight year. The second-ranked and second-seeded Bulldogs (33-1) were making their eighth appearance in the Elite Eight overall spanning 27 seasons
Brighton, ranked 21st nationally, just could not match up with Catholic Central in certain weight classes.
“When you have five or six elite wrestlers that are ranked nationally, it’s hard to beat them,” admitted Brighton coach Tony Greathouse. “I was asking kids to go out there and beat the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state in some weight classes and kids that are ranked amongst the best in the country. We still have some great kids and we’re proud of the season. We lost to them by 58 in last year’s finals and only lost by 15 this year. But when you have three teams here ranked nationally, CC is 10th, we;’re 21st and I think Davison is something like 36, you have great teams but only one is going to win.”
STATE FINALS BOX SCORE
NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 34, BRIGHTON 19
140: Logan Sanom (Detroit Catholic Central) maj. dec. Zach Johnson 15-7; 145: Derek Gilcher (Detroit Catholic Central) maj. dec. Rhett Newton 11-3 ; 152: Kevon Davenport (Detroit Catholic Central) d. Victor Grabowski 7-3; 160: Cameron Amine (Detroit Catholic Central) maj. dec. Dane Donabedian 17-6; 171: River Shettler (Brighton) d. Manny Rojas 5-2; 189: Easton Turner (Detroit Catholic Central) d. Greyson Stevens 3-1; 215: Brendin Yatooma (Detroit Catholic Central) maj. dec. Luke Stanton 10-2; 285: Steven Kolcheff (Detroit Catholic Central) maj. dec. Colby Ford 10-2; 103: Anthony Walker (Detroit Catholic Central) d. Quaylon Newton 5-2; 112: Mason Shrader (Brighton) maj. dec. Caleb White 10-0; 119: Sam Freeman (Brighton) p. Matt Anderson 3:45; 125: Ben Manly (Brighton) d. Kamron Davenport 6-3; 130: Eddie Homrock (Brighton) d. Camden Trupp 7-2; 135: Josh Edmond (Detroit Catholic Central) tech. fall Aiden Brown 18-3.
RECORDS — Detroit Catholic Central 27-1; Brighton 33-1.
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STATE SEMIFINAL BOX SCORES
NOVI DETROIT CATHOLIC CENTRAL 56, WESTLAND JOHN GLENN 9
152: Kevon Davenport (NDCC) tech. fall Brenten Polk 21-5; : Cameron Amine (NDCC) tech. fall Graden Bowen 19-4 ; 171: Manny Rojas (NDCC) p. Justin Morrison 2:45 189: Easton Turner (NDCC) p. Hayden Rhoades 1:36; 215: Brendin Yatooma (NDCC) p. Sadq Sheikhmeeri 0:27; 285: Steven Kolcheff (NDCC) p. Antoine Hines (Westland 1:08; 103: Anthony Walker (NDCC) d. Josh Mars 7-3; 112: Ty Cowan (WJG) d. Caleb White 3-1 (OT); 119: Matt Anderson (NDCC) d. Casey Tennant 6-5; 125: Caleb Meekins (WJG) p. Philip Burney 0:55; 130: Camden Trupp (NDCC) maj. dec. Charles Kersten 14-5; 135: Josh Edmond (NDCC) d. Kyle Borthwell 7-1; 140: Marc Shaeffer (NDCC) maj. dec. Anthony Hudson 14-5; 145: Derek Gilcher (NDCC) tech. fall Shawn Brown 16-1.
RECORDS — Novi Detroit Catholic Central 25-1; Westland John Glenn 30-6
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BRIGHTON 31, DAVISON 24
152: Brian Case (DA) d.Harley Berne 14-9; 160: Jay Nivison (DA) d. Dane Donabedian 6-4; 171: Alex Facundo (Davison) by void; 189: Cal Stefanko (DA) d. River Shettler (Brighton) 3-2 (penalty); 215: Greyson Stevens (BR) d. Trevor McGowan 6-0; 285: Luke Stanton (BR) p. Jimmy Colley 1:42; 103: Quaylon Newton (BR) d. Aden Williams 7-3; 112: Owen Payne (DA) p. Mason Shrader 3:20; 119: Sam Freeman (BR) maj. dec. Steven Garty 11-3 125: Jaron Wilson (DV) d. Ben Manly 2-1; 130: Eddie Homrock (BR) d. Andrew Chambal 8-2;135: Zach Johnson (BR) tech. fall Raymond Cole 21-6; 140: Rhett Newton (BR) d. James Johnston 5-2; 145: Victor Grabowski (BR) maj. dec. Landon Kish 11-1.
RECORDS — Brighton 33-0; Davison 16-3
