On the defensive: Catholic Central is heavy favorite to defend title at 52nd Oakland County Wrestling tournament

Oxford, Rochester, Holly, Clarkston all eying top-five finish

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

OXFORD — Back where it belongs.

After one season being contested in a professional stadium, the 52^nd annual Oakland County Wrestling tournament will migrate back to a more intimate setting. The level of competition will remain the same, featuring some of the state’s best.

Preliminary rounds will take place Friday at Southfield High School and Oxford Middle School, with all the consolation and finals rounds being contest at Oxford Saturday.

Competition begins at 4 p.m. Friday at both sites, while matches will resume at 9 a.m. Saturday. The finals are scheduled to being around 4 p.m. if there are no major delays.

“It’s nice to have it back at a school,” said Novi Detroit Catholic Central Mitch Hancock, whose team has won three straight county titles after moving into Oakland County from Redford in 2006. “I know there were a lot of issues last season.”

FINISHING ON TOP: Rochester Stoney Creek's Nick Gajdzik was second at 215 pounds at last year'sOakland county tournament and should contend again this season. File Photo

Last season the Oakland County and Macomb County tournaments were held side-by-side at the Pontiac Silverdome. The tournament featured multiple delays with many other unfavorable conditions. Tournament officials opted to bring the tournament back to school field houses and gymnasiums this season.

The tournament finals has been held numerous times in the past at Oxford.

“Every team sets goals and winning this tournament is one of our goals every season,” noted Hitchcock, who is in his fifth season as head coach of the Shamrocks. “There’s so much talent at this tournament. You look at all of the great programs and great wrestlers, it’s a great accomplishment for any team that wins it.”

While the tournament features top-ranked Catholic Central and No. 3 Oxford, the defending state champions in Division 1, the field of nearly 50 programs also features several other highly-touted programs and several state-ranked individuals.

Rochester, which is 7-2 overall and 3-1 against ranked schools, also figures to be in the hunt, along with Holly and Clarkston. Lake Orion, Rochester Adams.

Rochester coach Frank Lafferty believes that Catholic Central has too many potential champions and depth to be overcome at this year’s meet, but feels that there will be a race for the runner-up trophy.

“We have two guys out, but I think we’ll still be able to score a lot of points,” he said. “There are 4-5 teams that will be right there. But I think Catholic Central will win it. They are very tough. But Holly is good, Oxford is good, Clarkston is good.”

Many of the top teams come from the OAA Red Division, including Oxford, Rochester, Clarkston, Lake Orion and Adams. Holly hails from the Flint Metro League.

There are eight returning champions in the 14 weight classes this season.

Catholic Central’s Alec Mooradian leads that group as he has a goal of winning four county individual titles in his career. Evan Toth and Malik Amine are other returning champs for the top-ranked Shamrocks.

Oxford’s Prescott Line, Birmingham Brother Rice’s Andrew Napieraj, Holly’s Shawn Scott and Anthony Gonzales and Clarkston’s Scott Devos are also trying to defend their county titles, although many will compete in different weight classes this year.

“It’s a great time to work on technical things and iron out some tings. You get a chance to wrestle a lot of matches in two days,” said Hancock. “It’s still early in the season. But it takes a lot of endurance to win the county and who have to have a lot of guys make it back to the second day. If some of your kids get upset, it really hurts your (team’s chances.”

Last year Hitchcock handed the reigns to his staff of assistant coaches, as his wife gave birth to their child the day before the county meet. His wife is expecting this week as well.

“If I don’t show up again, that will be the reason,” laughed Hitchcock. “What are the odds. We have a baby a year apart and both are due around the time of the county (meet).”

LAST YEAR’S STATS: http://northoaklandsports.com/2010/12/19/844/

LAST YEAR’S TOP 20 TEAMS: 1. Novi Detroit Catholic Central, 343.5; 2. Oxford, 329; 3. Holly, 220;4. Clarkston, 216; 5. Rochester, 195; 6. Rochester Adams, 158; 7. Auburn Hills Avondale, 137; 8. South Lyon, 124; 9. West Bloomfield, 122.5; 10. Rochester Stoney Creek, 114; 11. Farmington Harrison, 112.5; 12. Lake Orion, 107; 13. Birmingham Brother Rice, 103; 14. (tie) Walled Lake Western, 100; Farmington, 100; 16. Walled Lake Central, 97; 17. Novi, 92; 18. Hazel Park, 88; 19. North Farmington, 87; 20. Pontiac, 84.

FOR MORE WRESTLING COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=wrestling&x=10&y=9
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