Oxford qualifies 11 for regionals, Rochester produces seven champs at D-1 district
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS— For Nick Gajdzik, it’s not about a perfect record. It’s about being perfect at the right time.
The Rochester Stoney Creek senior continued his pursuit of perfection and first state championship in school history by winning an individual Division 1 district championship at Rochester High School.
“I don’t really care about the record. It’s all about the state tournament and wrestling your best,” said the Harvard-bound Gajdzik. “Sure, the record is nice, but I am trying to win a state championship and you have to do well at the district and then the regional to be able to accomplish that. Last year, I was second in the state and I am starting to feel that extra hunger, wanting work harder in practice. It’s all about getting to the state finals and being perfect on that (Weekend).”
Gajdzik, now 39-0 on the season, defeated previously unbeaten Jeff Tautolo 6-1 in the 285-pound championship tilt to become one of 14 victors on a long day. Tautolo is now 46-1 on the year.
The top four individuals in each weight class advance to next Saturday’s D-1 regional at Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse.
(For complete results, visit http://northoaklandsports.com/2012/02/11/wrestling-division-1-rstrister-district-results/)
FINISHING ON TOP: Oxford's Kyle Hill was a district champion Saturday and one of 11 Wildcats to advance to the regional round.
While Gajdzik was perfect again, so was Rochester in terms of champions. The sixth-ranked Falcons, fresh off their first team district title in 19 years last Wednesday, sent seven wrestlers into the finals and walked away with seven champions. The seven district titlists is a school record.
“This was a great performance for our guys,” said Rochester coach Frank Lafferty. “Sure, we would have loved to get a few more guys through to regionals, but this district was a meat grinder, one of the toughest districts in the state. To have seven champions from this district says a lot.”
Oxford, the defending state team champions, sent 11 wrestlers into the regional round-more than any other school at the site — and had xx champions.
Senior Prescott Line remained unbeaten on the year with a 3-1 victory over Stoney Creek’s Serge Andreou in the 215-pound finals. Jacob Peasley (152), Mike Willitz (130), and Kyle Hill (125) also claimed titles for the seventh-ranked Wildcats.
“You have to be wrestling with some confidence right now,” said Line, who is the defending state champion in is weight class and 37-0 this season. “This is the time you want to be at your best. You have to practice a lot harder and (compete) a lot harder out on the mats. This is when it counts the most.”
Willits came into the tournament seeded third but walked away with his first district title, topping Romeo’s Evan Richardson, 4-2, in the finals. Richardson had upset Chippewa Valley’s Shaun Lee, the Macomb County champion, in the semifinals.
“I had beat the guy that was seeded second, so I don’t know why I was seeded third,” offered Willits. “But that’s okay, I went out there and proved it on the mat.”
In a marathon match that reached two overtimes, Rochester’s Shwan Shadaia outlasted Utica Ford’s David Skochelak, 14-12, part of the Falcons’ fine day. Justin Kim (103), Cody Devoe (171), Aaron Morgan (145), Dean Vettese (140), Kaelen Richards (135) and Josh Wood (119), a two-time state runner-up, also had district championships for Rochester.
Richards avenged a defeated suffered two weeks ago to Macomb Dakota’s Jake Johnson, this time claiming an 8-2 victory.
“We have improved a lot this past year and we’ve had a great season,” said Richards, who was third individually I the state last season. “We have a great coach in (Frank) Lafferty and he has helped us reach this point, Having seven champions today says a lot about how far we’ve come. I know we have some big goals (to accomplish) coming up.”
Wood pinned Sterling Heights Stevenson’s Dominic Patrus in 3:04 — the only pin in the finals of the 14 weight classes.
“My goal is to get back to the state finals and win it this year,” smiled Wood, who lost in the finals at 103 as a freshman and in the finals at 112 last season. “I know I can do it this year. But I have to get there first and this was the first step.”
New Baltimore Anchor Bay’s John Bourcier grinded out a win over Clinton Township’s Greg Dollan, 2-1, in the finals at 160. Romeo’s Tayron Womble (112) had the final win of the day, edging Oxford’s Edwin Schlickenmeyer 9-8 in the finals.
“This is the right time to peak,” smiled Womble of the state tournament.
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.
FOR MORE WRESTLING COVERAGE: http://northoaklandsports.com/?s=wrestling&x=10&y=9
* Have photos or video of this event that you wish to share? E-mail pertinent information to www.northoaklandsports.com Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or e-mail results@northoaklandsports.com.
Category: Featured Articles, High School, Lake Orion, Most Recently Updated Stories, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Top Stories, Uncategorized
