The Capac wrestling team takes time out for a picture after the GTC Tournament. The Chiefs share the league title with Caro.

 

CAPAC — The Capac wrestling team claimed a second-place finish last Saturday at the Greater Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Memphis High School.

With their showing, Capac (which won the dual portion of the conference standings) shares the league title with tournament champion Caro.

It marked Capac’s first league championship since 1999.

At Saturday’s GTC Tournament, Caro’s 176-point output set the pace. They were followed by Capac (154.5), Cass City (152), Memphis (127), Mayville (104), Ubly (96), Brown City (85), Bad Axe (72), Sandusky (55.5), Vassar (45), Marlette (27) and Elkton-Pigeon BayPort (five).

Nathan Schocke, Shane Hofmann and Derek Mason led Capac with firsts that day. Schocke reached the 119-pound title match where he pinned Memphis foe Dakota Strickland with 4:39 elapsed; Hofmann advanced to the championship encounter at 125 pounds where he posted a 6-2 win against Brown City’s Cameron Gottschalk; and Mason gained admittance to the 130-pound title match where he picked up a 9-4 victory over Cass City’s Drew Markel.

Max Frangedakis, Hunter Thorner and Hunter Tyson gave Capac thirds. Frangedakis finished 112-pound action with a 7-4 victory over Caro’s Bryan Sherd; Thorner closed out his stint at 140 pounds by pinning Memphis counterpart Cody Thomas with 2:04 gone; and Tyson wrapped up 145-pound action when he pinned Vassar’s Emil Belcke with 54 seconds elapsed.

Jeff Helzer had the other Capac placewinning effort, registering a fourth at 103 pounds. His final bout ended with a loss by pin with 2:39 gone to Cass City adversary Hunter Turnbull.

Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.