You are here: Home » Featured Articles » WRESTLING: Dakota rallies to end Oxford’s season in state quarterfinals

WRESTLING: Dakota rallies to end Oxford’s season in state quarterfinals

Dan Stickradt | February 23, 2018 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

Instagram: stickradtdan

Snapchat: Dan.Stickradt

KALAMAZOO — Oxford’s state tournament run has ended in the state quarterfinals round once again.

This time it was Macomb Dakota that stalled the Wildcats’ postseason run with a come-from-behind victory.

Trailing 19-12, third-seeded Dakota won the final five weight classes as part of a match-clinching 22-0 run to down sixth-seeded Oxford 34-19 in the Division 1 state quarterfinals Feb. 23 at Wings Arena in Kalamazoo.

Rahmi Khalil’s pin of Oxford’s Jason Green in the 285-pound match began the run and trimmed the Wildcats’ lead down to 19-18. Brendan Ferretti (103) recorded a decision for a 21-19 advantage and Dakota would not trail again.

“We have faith in a lower weight classes, one of our strengths,” said Dakota coach Ed Skowneski. “Once we got the pin at 285, our next four wrestlers (from 103-125) stepped up and put us (in the lead).”

Oxford participated in the state quarterfinals for the 10th time in 11 seasons and 12th time overall spanning 20 years. The junior-heavy Wildcats could not fend off the Cougars, who advanced to the state semifinals for the second straight season.

“This was a very winnable dual with two good teams without a doubt,” said Oxford coach Ross Wingert. “We needed a few of those (swing point) decisions that we didn’t get done. We did a pretty good job at certain weight classes and that was a focus all week. Dakota has some amazing hammers on that team and we didn’t get pinned in certain weight classes. But we need to pick up a couple of wins in this toss-up weight classes and we came up short in a couple of those. There mid-range guys beat our mid-range guys and that was the difference in the end.”

Oxford won four straight matches, three by major decision and one by decision for a 15-6 advantage. Sergio Borg (140), Ryan Miller (145) and Trent More (152) all captured majors and Caleb Talbert (160) added three more points.

The Wildcats (20-8) also picked up a four-point major decision fro Austin Schlicht (215) but would not score again.

“We still had a good season. We started a lot of juniors and some underclassmen,” added Wingert. “We’re still young. We only had two seniors that were (regular) starters this season. So we should have a lot back next year and hopefully we’ll have a better result next year.”

MHSAA DIVISION 1 STATE QUARTERFINALS

MACOMB DAKOTA 34, OXFORD 19

130: Connor Casey (MD) d. Daltan Myers 8-2; 135: Andrew Barrett (MD) d. Joe Vackaro 10-5; 140: Sergio Borg (O) maj. dec. Tommy Gawlowski 13-3; 145: Ryan Miller (O) maj. dec. Reid Maher 11-3; 152: Trent Myre (O) maj. dec. Christian Karges 17-8; 160: Caleb Tabert (O) d. Dustin Solomon 5-3; 171: Eli Andary (MD) d. Thomas Wandrie 3-1; 189: Layne Malczewski (MD) d. Devin Trevino 5-2; 215: Austin Schlicht (O) maj. dec. Mike Robinson 11-1; 285: Rahmi Khalil (MD) p. Jason Green 1:06; 103: Brendan Ferretti (MD) d. Matthew Curtis 5-0; 112: Brock Prater (MD) p. Ashton Anderson 0:53; 119: Nick Alayan (MD) d. Jack Thompson 10-3; 125: Justin Tiburcio (MD) maj. dec. Liam Hillary 12-4.