Times unveils their top grapplers

 

TRI-CITY AREA — From the opening match in December until the last one in March, these competitors excelled.

Here is a look at who made the 2019-20 edition of the Tri-City Times All-Area wrestling team and the credentials they produced along the way:

Maria Stanton, Almont, 103 pounds.

Stanton amassed a 28-15 mark, good enough for a success clip of 65.1 percent, while collecting 11 pins this winter.

The freshman collected thirds at Caro and Imlay City Tournaments plus generated a fourth at the Mayville Tournament.

“Maria was a great addition to our team,” Almont Coach Mat Dwyer said. “She is the only kid I have ever coached that can be laughing just before a match and as soon as the whistle blows she is an instant competitor,” he emphasized.

Dallas Stanton, Almont, 103/112 pounds.

Stanton put together a 42-6 record, an 87.5 percent success rate, while collecting 24 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The sophomore registered firsts as a 112-pounder at the Caro, Mayville and Imlay City Tournaments.

Stanton also won 103-pound titles at a Division 3 district hosted by Richmond; a Division 3 regional hosted by Yale; claimed second at the 47th Annual Jim Peltier Yale Classic; provided a second (good enough to lock up All-State accolades) during the Division 3 state finals contested at Detroit’s Ford Field; plus added a fourth at the Blue Water Area Conference Tournament hosted by Imlay City High School.

“Dallas is one of the toughest kids on our team,” Almont Coach Mat Dwyer said. “He is constantly striving to be better and pushes his teammates to be better as well.”

This was his second year on Almont’s squad.

Max Frangedakis, Capac, 103/112 pounds.

Frangedakis furnished a 32-8 mark, good enough for a success clip of 80 percent, while generating 19 pins this winter.

The junior earned the distinction of 103-pound weight class champion at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament plus obtained seconds at the Caro Tournament and a Division 3 district hosted by Montrose.

Frangedakis also ranked third among 112-pound entrants at the Greater Thumb Conference Tournament in Memphis.

“He had another good year for us considering he is always one of the lightest in his weight class wherever we go, Capac Coach Jacob Nemececk said. “Max is someone we can count on to come through with a big win,” he noted.

“We are expecting big things next year from him.”

This was his third year on Capac’s squad.

Dakota Sandzik, Imlay City, 119 pounds.

Sandzik produced a 37-19 record, a 66.1 percent success rate, while contributing 23 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The junior provided a third as a 119 pounder at a Fenton-based Division 2 district; furnished a fourth at the Imlay City-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; plus added fifths at the Caro Tournament and Imlay City Tournament.

“He is a two-time state qualifier that has been consistently successful in his high school career,” Imlay City Coach Anthony D’Ambrosio commented. “Dakota was one of our captains this season,” he noted.

“He surpassed the 100 career win mark as a junior. We look forward to having him as a huge asset to the team next season.”

This was his third year on Imlay City’s squad.

Cristian Rojas, Imlay City, 125 pounds.

Rojas supplied a 31-9 mark, good enough for a success clip of 77 percent, while accumulating 16 pins this winter.

The sophomore earned the distinction of weight class champion at the Caro Tournament; furnished seconds at the Imlay City Tournament and Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament; claimed a second at the Imlay City-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and Imlay City Tournament; plus provided a third at a Division 2 district hosted by Fenton High School.

“He is a fierce competitor,” Imlay City Coach Anthony D’Ambrosio said. “Cristian has put in the work and it shows,” he noted.

“He always puts in his best effort and never stops no matter what period. Cristian was also a team captain for us this year. He has come up huge for our team time and time again. We expect to see him back next season as one of the best in the league.”

This was his second year on Imlay City’s squad.

Aiden Finn, Almont, 125/130 pounds.

Finn generated a 26-19 record, a 57.8 percent success rate, while finishing with 18 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The junior provided a second as a 125-pounder at a Richmond-based Division 3 district and at the Blue Water Area Conference hosted by Imlay City High School.

Finn also furnished a second as a 130-pounder at the Caro Tournament as well as obtained a fifth at the Ryan Mercer Tournament in Mayville.

“Aiden is our diamond in the rough,” Almont Coach Mat Dwyer said. “We all knew how good he was and could be,” he noted.

“Halfway through the season he finally figured this out himself. It’s going to be exciting to see how far he will go next year.”

This was his third year on Imlay City’s squad.

Austin Torres, Imlay City, 130 pounds.

Torres fashioned a 27-20 mark, good enough for a success clip of 57.4 percent, while collecting 14 pins this winter.

The senior took first at the Caro Tournament (attaining MVP status for the lower weight classes) plus provided thirds at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament and the Blue Water Area Conference Tournament hosted by Imlay City High School.

“He is going to be missed in our lineup next season,” Imlay City Coach Anthony D’Ambrosio said. “Austin had a great season for us,” he noted.

“He always goes 100 percent in practice and had many big wins for the team this year. Austin was a captain for us and always had the team in mind.”

This was his fourth year on Imlay City’s squad.

Derek Mason, Capac, 130 pounds.

Mason produced a 27-13 record, a 67.5 percent success rate, with 12 pins this winter.

The freshman took first as a 130-pounder at the Greater Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Memphis High School and supplied a fourth at a Montrose-based Division 3 district.

Mason also contributed a third pitted against 135-pound foes at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament.

“He had a great first year on varsity and came out and beat multiple seasoned wrestlers,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek said. “Derek has a great attitude on and off the mat.”

“I am looking forward to watching Derek grow.”

Anthony D’Ambrosio, Imlay City, 135 pounds.

D’Ambrosio wound up with a 38-16 record, a 70.4 percent success rate, while gathering 24 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The freshman registered a second at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament; furnished a third at the Blue Water Area Conference Tournament hosted by Imlay City and a Fenton-based Division 2 district; plus notched fifths at the Caro Tournament and Imlay City Tournament.

“He was consistent all year,” Imlay City Coach Anthony D’Ambrosio said. “Anthony never missed a practice all season and put in the effort,” he noted.

“He is a team wrestler and never questioned being bumped up most of the year to help the team. We look forward to having him in the lineup for three more seasons.”

Mathew Dwyer, Almont, 140 pounds.

Dwyer provided a 43-11 mark, good enough for a success clip of 79.6 percent, this winter.

The sophomore obtained seconds as a 140-pounder at the 47th Annual Jim Peltier Yale Classic and Division 3 districts hosted by Richmond High School; plus registered thirds at a Yale-based Division 3 regional and the Division 3 state finals (good enough to attain All-State status).

Dwyer added seconds as a 145-pounder at the Caro Tournament and at the Imlay City High School-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament plus supplied an identical finish at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament.

“He continues to surprise and impress us on how he competes,” Almont Coach Mat Dwyer said. “Mathew puts his teammates first in the practice room,” he noted.

“He and Dallas had a competition with each other all year. It was exciting to watch and be a part of.”

This was his second year on Almont’s squad.

Hunter Thorner, Capac, 140 pounds.

Thorner wound up with a 21-14 record, a 60 percent success rate, while amassing 14 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The junior placed third as a 140-pounder at the Memphis-based Greater Thumb Conference Tournament; ranked fourth as a 145-pounder at the Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament hosted by Mayville High School; plus provided a fourth in 152-pound action at the Caro Tournament.

“He never stopped working,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek said. “Hunter continues to improve and put the work in,” he noted.

“He is a great leader in the room. Even though the year did not turn out the way he wanted I am expecting next year to be a big year for him,”

This was his third year on Capac’s squad.

Hunter Tyson, Capac, 145 pounds.

Tyson managed a 30-15 mark, good enough for a success clip of 66.7 percent, with 14 pins this winter.

The sophomore obtained a third at the Greater Thumb Conference Tournament hosted by Memphis High School; furnished a fourth at a Montrose-based Division 3 district; plus contributed a fifth at the Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament in Mayville.

“He has improved tremendously over the past year,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek said. “Hunter has put in a ton of work during the offseason and it is starting to pay off,” he noted.

“He has made some big comebacks during matches and beat some tough kids. The extra work outside of the room will continue to pay off in the next two years.”

This was his second year on Capac’s squad.

Lane Jackson, Almont, 160 pounds.

Jackson forged a 24-18 record, a 57.1 percent success rate, with 20 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The junior claimed a first in 160-pound action at the Caro Tournament; plus furnished thirds at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament and at a Division 3 district hosted by Richmond High School.

He also took third as a 152-pounder at the Imlay City Tournament.

“Lane is one of the most naturally talented athletes that we have ever seen,” Imlay City Coach Mat Dwyer said. “There is nothing that this young man can’t do once he puts his mind to it,” he noted.

This was his third year on Almont’s squad.

Bryce Tank, Capac, 189 pounds.

Tank posted a 26-13 mark, good enough for a success clip of 66.7 percent, with 10 pins this winter.

The junior collected thirds at the Caro Tournament and at a Montrose-based Division 3 district; plus supplied a fourth at the Ryan Mercer Memorial Tournament hosted by Mayville.

“He came into this year down a weight class from the previous season,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek said. “Bryce always has a great attitude and works hard in the room,” he noted.

“He has been putting the work in both on and off the mat and that hard work should really pay off for him next year.”

This was his third year on Capac’s squad.

Joe Harper, Imlay City, 285 pounds.

Harper generated a 49- 2 record, a 96.1 percent success rate, with 35 pins during the 2019-20 campaign.

The senior earned the distinction of weight class champion at the Caro Tournament, Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Tournament, Imlay City Tournament, Imlay City-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament, Division 2 regionals hosted by Fenton High School, and a Gaylord High School-based Division 2 regional; plus furnished a second (claiming All-State accolades) during the Division 2 state finals contested at Detroit’s Ford Field.

“He has put in the time during every offseason and it has paid off,” Imlay City Coach Anthony D’Ambrosio said. “Joe was a captain this year and always supported the team,” he noted.

“We could count on him throughout the season. He was fun to watch over the years and always has a good attitude. Joe was able to acquire over 150 career wins, including over 100 by pin, and that was despite missing most of his junior year healing from injury. He finished his high school career with an outstanding performance in the state finals. He beat the number one ranked wrestler in the state to advance in the tournament and eventually make the finals match. We look for him to continue his success at the next level.”

This was his fourth year on Imlay City’s squad.

Second team– Jeff Helzer, Capac, 103 pounds; Nathan Schocke, Capac, 119 pounds; Shane Hofmann, Capac, 125 pounds; Trenton Kruse, Almont, 135 pounds; Landon Kruse, Almont, 152 pounds; Arturo Rosales, Capac, 160 pounds; and Jacob Jackson, Almont, 189 pounds.

Honorable mention– Randy Graham, Almont, 119 pounds; Connor Durall, Almont, 130 pounds; Cody Koval, Almont, 140 pounds; and Gavin Graham, Almont, 215 pounds.

Coach of the Year– For directing Capac to a 17-6 overall and 10-1 GTC record, Jacob Nemecek earns Tri-
City Times All-Area Coach of the Year
accolades.