TRI-CITY AREA — The Almont and Imlay City wrestling teams placed three competitors each on the Michigan Grappler Individual Preseason Rankings which were announced recently.
Mathew Dywer headlines the Almont contingent, checking in as the second-rated wrestler in the 145-pound weight class for Division 3 schools.
Almont’s Mathew Dwyer (R) competes in a match during the 2019-20 season.
He is coming off an impressive 2019-20 campaign which saw him produce a 43-11 mark, good enough for a success clip of 79.6 percent.
The then 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 the Yale-based Division 3 regional and the Division 3 state finals (good enough to attain All-State status) at Ford Field in Detroit.
Dwyer added seconds 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.
It was his second year on Almont’s squad.
His teammate, Dallas Stanton, holds down a number three preseason ranking in the 112-pound weight class.
Last season Stanton put together a 42-6 record, an 87.5 percent success rate, while collecting 24 pins.
The then sophomore registered firsts as a 112-pounder at the Caro, Mayville and Imlay City Tournaments.
Stanton also won 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; and 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 Yale High School.
That was second year on Almont’s squad.
Lane Jackson was the other Almont competitor mentioned. He is rated ninth in the 171-pound weight class.
He is coming off a 2019-20 campaign which saw him amass a 24-18 mark, a 57.1 percent success rate, with 20 pins.
The then 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 in as a 152-pounder at the Imlay City Tournament.
That was his third year on Almont’s squad.
Cristian Rojas tops the Imlay City contingent. He is ranked eighth in Division 2 among 130-pounders.
He returns after registering a 31-9 mark, good enough for a success clip of 77 percent, while accumulating 16 pins.
The then 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 seconds 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.
That was his second year on Imlay City’s squad.
His teammate, Anthony D’Ambrosio, has been pegged with a number 12 preseason ranking in the 135-pound weight class.
Last season D’Ambrosio wound up with a 38-16 record, a 70.4 percent success rate, while gathering 24 pins.
The then 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.
Dakota Sandzik was the other Imlay City competitor acknowledged. He is rated 13th in the 125-pound weight class.
He is coming off a 2019-20 campaign which saw him generate a 37-19 mark, a 66.1 percent success rate, while contributing 23 pins.
The then junior provided a third as a 119-pounder at the Fenton-based district; furnish a fourth at the Imlay City-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; plus added fifths at the Caro Tournament and Imlay City Tournament.
That was his third year on Imlay City’s squad.
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.
