Oxford wins OAA Super Meet title, shares OAA-Red trophy with Rochester
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Sometimes a loss can bring out the best in any team. It sure has motivated Oxford’s wrestling team.
After losing to Rochester, 37-29, on Jan. 11, the Wildcats exacted a small measure of revenge by finishing first at the OAA Red-White Super Meet Saturday at Rochester High School.
The fourth-ranked Wildcats scored 265 points to topple the 12-school field, which gave Oxford a share of the OAA Red Division crown with sixth-ranked Rochester.
“I think that made us work harder,” admitted Oxford coach Brandon Rank, whose team is the defending league champions and has won or shared the league crown for six straight seasons. “We didn’t wrestle all that well when we lost to Rochester. But I thought we competed today and this is when it starts to mater. We have the big meets coming up and that’s where we really want to be wrestling our best.”
TAKE DOWN: Rochester's KAelen Richards slams Hazel PArk's Cody Vanderhagen to the floor during Saturdy's OAA Red-White Super Meet. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
For Rochester, it marks the Falcons’ first conference crown since 1997 and their first in the OAA’s top division. The past league title for Rochester came in the OAA Division II (White Division) 15 years ago and before that, Rochester’s most recent league title was 1993 in the old Metro Suburban Activities Association, which predates the formation of the OAA.
Rochester scored 216 points at the Super Meet, which was second overall and second among OAA-Red schools. The Falcons did so without its full lineup, missing four starters.
“It’s been a long time,” admitted Rochester coach Frank Lafferty. “We were missing some kids today, so I didn’t think we could match up with Oxford. But we hope to see them again. We’ll take the co-championship.”
If there are no upsets, Rochester and Oxford should meet in the Division 1 regional championships on Feb. 15 at Utica Ford. The state tournaments begin Feb. 8-9 with the team districts across the state.
As for the start of the championship season for wrestling, the OAA Super Meet combined all 12 teams from the OAA Red and White Divisions with the scoring going into an overall category, plus two separate division scoring columns (please visit http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/02/07/league-meet-wrestling-results/ )
Farmington Harrison finished second at the Super Meet in terms of OAA White Division schools are concerned, but grabbed the overall OAA White Division league championship. Farmington, runner-up in the dual standings, was fourth (81) at the Super Meet. Rochester Stoney Creek took fourth overall with 143 points at the Super Meet and first among White Division teams, which vaulted the Cougars into second place overall in the White.
“I thought we wrestled very well in several weight classes. We just needed Harrison to finish (third) in order for us to share the crown. Harrison was second and (West Bloomfield) third at this meet.
Clarkston was third overall (185) and third in the OAA-Red standings. Lake Orion (fifth, 141.5), Rochester Adams (132), Harrison (110), Auburn Hills Avondale (96.5), West Bloomfield (86), Farmington (81), Hazel Park (80.5) and North Farmington (70).
Oxford had four champions on the day and placed in 13 weight classes to make it 11 straight seasons that the Wildcats have finished in the top two at the league level. Dan Curtis (112), Kyle Hill (125) Marty Gianola (160) and Prescott Line (215) all won titles for Oxford.
Rochester’s Kaelen Richards (135), Dean Vettese (140), Aaron Morgan (145), Cody Devoe (171) and Justin Kim (103) led the Falcons’ charge. Rochester’s five titles was most of any of the 12 schools.
“One of our goals was to win the league and we want to make a run to Battle Creek,” offered Rochester’s Devoe. “We have never been that far. We would like to be the group that pushes us (to that point).”
Nick Vandermeer (152) and Ethan Frick (189) both won titles for Clarkston.
“This is the part of the season that you want to start to peak,” noted Vandermeer of the upcoming championship season. “It feels god to win the league (individually). It’s some nice confidence with all of the districts and regionals coming up and the state finals only a few weeks away.”
Stoney Creek’s Nick Gajdzik (285), Harrison’s Larone Mack (130) and West Bloomfield’s Ross Bahro (119) rounded out the winners.
TOURNAMENT STATS: http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/02/07/league-meet-wrestling-results/
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Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Clarkston, High School, Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek
