Grapplers take 3rd at Rockford Invite

Another weekend invite equals another solid showing by the Wildcat Varsity Wrestling team.
The grapplers took their wrestling prowess and drove three hours to the Rockford Invitational in Grand Rapids, where they finished third, one point behind second place Rockford and seven-and-a-half points behind Invite winner Hesperia.
‘Great wrestling…Hesperia is very tough and so is Rockford,? said Wrestling Coach Scott Couch. ‘To be in the mix with those guys is real nice. I think we are coming along and looking for good things towards the end of the year.?
11 Wildcats placed in the invite, with Jacob Peasley at 112 lbs. being their only division winner.
Other winners included Keegan Cantara (second), Noah Cantara (fourth), Mike Thomas (second), Zac Miller (third), Marty Giannola (fourth), Ben Ralston (second), Cody Parker (second), Jack Barrie (second), AJ Logan (second) and Prescott Line (second).
Oxford could have placed higher at the invite, but one of their consistent placers sustained an injury during the tournament and couldn’t continue.
Even though Couch was pleased with the third place finish, he said that there was room for improvement.
‘We just have to work on winning those close matches,? he noted.
For the second straight week, the Wildcats didn’t even have to break a sweat against their Flint Metro League opponent.
They defeated Swartz Creek 51-12 and Linden 41-15.
‘We try to go through and win every dual meet we can,? Couch said.
He noted that the Wildcats still had some big duals left on the schedule, especially with Detroit Catholic Central coming to Oxford next week and Holly on the horizon.
‘Just getting ready for that state run at the end.?
The Wildcats next chance to hit the mat is on Wednesday, Jan. 20 against Lapeer East and West at Brandon High School starting at 6 p.m.