A tough pre-break season has left the Oxford grapplers heading into the Oakland County Invitational with a 4-5 record. The Wildcats split on Dec. 10 against Redford Union and Flint Powers, and then walked away from the Romeo Invitational on Dec. 13 2-3.
The Cats lost 33-35 in an exciting meet against Redford Union that came down to the last match. Earning points for Oxford were Michael Upshur, 103; Mike May, 119; Bryant Vielhaber, 125, with a pin; Ron Mantel, 130, with a pin; Kevin Baker, 152; Mike Potter, 160; and Kyle Rowley, 189.
“There were a lot of places that we could have picked up points and we were not able to get it done,” said McDevitt. “Redford Union was a pretty good team that we should have beat. I hope we learned something from tonight.”
In the second half of the double dual-meet, Oxford found some hidden energy to take a 55-21 win over Flint Powers. Scoring for the Wildcats were Upshur, 103, with a pin; Nate Musgrove, 112; Mike May, 119, with a pin; Ron Mantel, 130, with a pin; Shawn Gall, 135, with a pin; Scott Hyder, 140, with a pin; Mike Potter, 160, with a pin; Kam Mueller, 171, with a pin; Kyle Rowley, 189, with a pin; and Kyle Oliver, 215.
“We just seemed a little more intense in the second match of the night,” said McDevitt.
Oxford stood 2-2 overall on Dec. 13 as they traveled to Romeo for the six team invitational. The Wildcats won against Harper Woods Notre Dame 14-61 and Flint Central 65-6, but lost to Richmond 37-26, Fowlerville 37-30 and Romeo 52-21.
Scoring against Harper Woods were May, 119, with a pin; Gall, 135; Potter, 160, with a pin; and Rowley, 189, with a pin. Against Flint Central were Vielhaber, 125, with a pin; Baker, 160, with a pin; Rowley, 189; Oliver, 215, with a pin; and Mitch Blose, 275; with a pin.
In a close loss to Fowlerville, the Wildcats had six grapplers earn points: Upshur, 103, with a pin; May, 119; with a pin; Vielhaber, 125; Mantel, 130, with a pin; Hyder, 140; and Oliver, 215, with a pin. Five Cats scored against Richmond: May, 119, with a pin; Mantel, 130; Gall, 135; Hyder, 140; and Potter, 160.
Against Romeo, only four Oxford wrestlers were able to earn points, but three of those were able to pin. Scoring for Oxford were Upshur, 103, with a pin; Mantel, 130; Kevin Nieporte, 160, with a pin; and Kyle Rowley, 189, with a pin.
The Wildcats now stand 4-5 overall as they prepare for the Oakland County Invitational on Dec. 19-20.