The Oxford Varsity Wrestling team wrapped up their season with a second place finish at district competition.
“We did well for a young team,” said Coach Paul McDevitt. “The team performed as I hoped they would.”
The Wildcats won in the semifinal round of district against Lapeer East 45-25. Winning their matches were Michael Upshur, 103; Nate Musgrove, 112; Mike May, 119; Bryant Vielhaber, 125; Shawn Gall, 135; Scott Hyder, 140; Mike Potter, 160; Kyle Nieporte, 152; and Kyle Rowley, 189.
In the finals, Oxford faced off against top league and district force Lapeer West. The Wildcats have been struggling against this year’s wrestling giant all season, and lost their last team match of the season to the Panthers 61-12. Only two Wildcat grapplers won their matches: Mike May at 119 and Kyle Rowley at 189.
The Wildcats finished their dual meet season at an impressive 22-9.
“We were actually one win shy of breaking the school record for the most wins in a season,” said McDevitt.
In individual results, five Oxford wrestlers qualified for regional competition. Rowley, at 189, was the only Wildcat to claim a district championship. Potter took third place at 160, Gall took fourth at 135, Hyder took fourth at 140 and Kyle Oliver took fourth at 215.
At regionals, both Kyle Rowley and Kyle Oliver qualified for state competition. Rowley took the top position after defeating Lapeer East’s Mike Bayshur 7-3.
“This is the fifth time in the past five weeks the two have wrestled against each other,” said McDevitt. “It’s been challenging for those two to face each other week after week; however, it’s also been good for them. They are each others toughest competition, so it drives them forward and really makes them improve and be better than they were before.”
Kyle Oliver, 215, won his position for state with an injury default win against Holly’s Aaron Shelton. Oliver was defeated by Shelton once earlier in the season 8-9 on what McDevitt referred to as a “questionable call by the referee.” During regionals, Shelton became injured and was unable to complete the match.
State competition is scheduled for March 13 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.