All-Area wrestling team chosen

TRI-CITY AREA — With five All-State competitors in the mix, the 2021-22 edition of the Tri-City Times All-Area wrestling lineup is one any coach would be glad to have.

Here is a look at who made the team and the credentials they generated en route to those accolades.

Tanner Land, Imlay City, 103 pounds.

Land put together a 42-12 record, good enough for a success clip of 77.7 percent, with 24 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The freshman notched second at the Caro Invitational; plus supplied thirds at the Ovid Elsie Tournament, Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament as well as Division 3 districts and regionals hosted by Richmond High School along the way.

“Tanner came in as a freshman with youth wrestling experience,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “We were able to move him around in the lineup and he contributed right off the start,” he noted.

“He went on from there to qualify for states as a freshman.”

Maria Stanton, Almont.

Stanton posted a 32-12 mark, a success rate of 72.7 percent, this winter.

The junior went unbeaten in the 97/112 weight class at the Sandusky Girls’ Tournament; pulled up second among 100-pound weight class at a girls’ sectional hosted by Howell High School; plus registered a fifth pitted against 100-pound foes at the girls’ state finals hosted by Ford Field in Detroit (claiming All-State recognition) among her season credentials.

“She had an outstanding season for us,” Almont Coach Dallas Stanton said. “Maria was able to close it out strong by placing at the state finals hosted by Ford Field in Detroit,” he noted.

“It will be great having her back for one more season.”

This was her third year on Almont’s squad.

Tyler McKenney, Capac, 112 pounds.

McKenney posted a 29-12 mark, a success rate of 70.7 percent, while collecting 12 pins this winter.

The freshman registered firsts at the Ryan Mercer Invitational as a 103-pounder; won the 112-pound title at the GTC Tournament in Sandusky; pulled up second in 103-pound action at the Caro Tournament and Bad Axe Invitational; was third as a 112-pounder during a Division 4 individual district hosted by New Lothrop; plus furnished a fourth in the 119-pound weight class at the Sandusky Tournament.

“He had a great first year for us,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Tyler put in a lot of work and wrestled tough,” he noted.

“He naturally weighs 103 pounds but we wrestled him at 112/119 for most of the year and placed very high at every tournament we went to. I am excited for the next three years with him.”

Dominic D’Ambrosio, Imlay City, 119 pounds.

D’Ambrosio generated a 48-3 record, good enough for a success clip of 92.3 percent, with 30 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The sophomore obtained firsts at the Caro Tournament, Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and Division 3 individual district hosted by Richmond High School; claimed second at the Ovid-Elsie Tournament and a Division 3 regional hosted by Richmond; plus contributed a third (good enough to earn All-State accolades) during the Division 3 state finals at Ford Field in Detroit along the way.

“Dominic came up huge for us in team duals with a win by pin against his Hart opponent,” Imlay City Coach Tony Ambrosio said “After being undefeated as a freshman and quarantined out of the postseason it was exciting to watch him at the state tournament compete at such a high level,” he noted.

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

Dallas Stanton, Imlay City, 119/112 pounds.

Stanton managed a 32-10 mark, a success rate of 76.2 percent, this winter.

The senior listed a third at a Richmond-based Division 3 individual district plus supplied a fourth at the Blue Water Area Conference Tournament hosted by Yale during the 2021-22 campaign.

“When the season started his goal was to make it back to states,” Almont Coach Dallas Stanton said. “Dallas fought hard to get there but fell just a bit short in a tough regional,”

“He still had a great year and career for us. Dallas finished his four-year run with us as a two-time All-State performer and that is a great accomplishment.”

Cristian Rojas, Imlay City, 125 pounds.

Rojas produced a 48-6 record, good enough for a success clip of 88.8 percent, with 30 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The senior claimed firsts at the Caro Tournament, Ovid-Elsie Tournament, Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and Division 3 individual districts hosted by Richmond High School; supplied a second at a Richmond-based Division 3 individual regional; plus registered a fourth (paving the way to All-State plaudits) during the Division 3 individual state finals hosted by Ford Field in Detroit along the way.

“He was one of our captains,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Cristian will be missed in our lineup,” he noted.

“There is no question he was one of our hammers. It’s always tough seeing seniors graduate be we are excited to follow his post high school successes.”

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

Julian Rojas, Imlay City, 130 pounds.

Rojas furnished a 48-7 mark, a success rate of 87.3 percent, while notching 23 pins this winter.

The junior listed firsts at the Caro Tournament and Ovid-Elsie Tournament; obtained seconds at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and at a Division 3 district hosted by Richmond; garnered a third at a Richmond-based Division 3 individual regional; plus provided a fifth during the Division 3 individual state finals at the Ford Field in Detroit (good enough to earn All-State accolades) among his season accomplishments.

“He has really developed and made a name for himself this season, Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Julian came into the season focused, always has a great attitude and it has contributed to his elite level of wrestling,” he noted.

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

Conner Wildie, Imlay City, 135 pounds.

Wildie generated a 35-17 record, good enough for a success clip of 67.3 percent, with 17 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The sophomore supplied a third at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; plus added fourths at the Caro Tournament and at a Division 3 individual district hosted by Richmond along the way.

“He is a unique wrestler,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Conner is ready to go each match,” he noted.

“He had no trouble bumping up for the team and came through with huge wins against some really tough wrestlers. We are thrilled to have him in the lineup for two more seasons.”

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

Christopher Galiana, Imlay City, 140 pounds.

Galiana managed a 12-10 mark, a success rate of 54.5 percent, with six pins this winter.

The freshman collected a fifth at the Ovid-Elsie Tournament along the way.

“It was refreshing to get Chris back in the room,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented “As a coach it was fun to watch him develop as a youth wrestler,” he noted.

“He always has the desire to be successful and is no stranger to hard work. Christopher really came through for the team in some critical moments this season.”

Anthony D’Ambrosio, Imlay City, 145 pounds.

D’Ambrosio wound up with a 45-10 record, good enough for a success clip of 81.8 percent, with 26 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The junior registered firsts at the Caro Tournament and Ovid-Elsie Tournament; claimed seconds at the Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and a Division 3 individual district hosted by Richmond High School; generated a third at a Richmond-based Division 3 individual regional; plus locked up an eighth (securing All-State plaudits) during the Division 3 individual state finals at Ford Field in Detroit along the way.

“He is another captain for us,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Anthony doesn’t shy away from putting in extra work,” he noted.

“We were able to bump him up all year and he got a huge pin that helped contribute to us making the final four at team states this season.”

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

Derek Mason, Capac, 145 pounds.

Mason produced a 38-10 mark, a success rate of 79.2 percent. while recording 18 pins this winter.

The junior listed firsts at the Caro Tournament and Sandusky Tournament; collected seconds at the Ryan Mercer Tournament, Bad Axe Invitational, Sandusky-based GTC Tournament and Division 4 individual districts hosted by New Lothrop; plus furnished a third at an Ithaca-based Division 4 individual regional among his season accomplishments.

“Like his previous two years he was a huge asset to our lineup,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “This year though he really stepped up and started showing some of his potential,” he noted.

“He had a rough go with an injury just before districts but he came back this year and made it to the state finals. He has continually improved from year to year and I know it will be the same for next year.”

This was his third season on Capac’s squad.

John Schoen, Capac, 152 pounds.

Schoen supplied a 34-16 record, good enough for a success clip of 69 percent, with 21 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The junior notched a second at the GTC Tournament; supplied thirds at a New Lothrop-based Division 4 individual district, Sandusky Tournament and Division 4 individual regional hosted by Ithaca; pulled up fourth at the Ryan Mercer Tournament; registered a sixth at the Bad Axe Invitational; and provided an eighth at the Caro Tournament along the way.

“He is a great all-around kid,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “John is always one of the hardest working kids in the room and that started to pay off.

This was his third year on Capac’s squad.

Hunter Tyson, Capac, 160 pounds.

Tyson provided a 29-20 mark, a success rate of 59.2 percent, while collecting 11 pins this winter.

The senior listed a second at the Bad Axe Invitational; obtained thirds at the Caro Tournament, Sandusky Tournament and GTC Tournament hosted by Sandusky High School; plus provided fourths at a New Lothrop-based Division 4 individual district as well as a Division 4 individual regional hosted by Ithaca High School among his season accomplishments.

“He had a great final year for us,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Hunter put a lot of work in and never quit,” he noted.”

“He did a lot of work in the offseason and it definitely paid off. He will be missed in the lineup and the room next year.

This was his fourth year on Capac’s squad.

Latham Perry, Imlay City. 215 pounds.

Perry fashioned a 33-17 record, a success rate of 66 percent, while accumulating 22 pins during the 2021-22 campaign.

The junior registered a second at the Caro Tournament; claimed a third at a Division 3 individual district hosted by Richmond High School; plus furnished a fourth at a Richmond-based Division 3 individual regional along the way.

“It is always great to have tough wrestlers on the top end of the lineup, Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Latham always wrestled the whole match,” he noted

“He had some big wins late in matches. He won a huge rematch in triple overtime at team regionals to help advance us to the finals. I have no doubt Latham is going to be a top contender in his senior year.”

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

Chris Torres, Imlay City. 285 pounds.

Torres notched a 41-12 mark, a success rate of 77.4 percent. while recording 29 pins this winter.

The senior listed firsts at the Ovid-Elsie Tournament and Yale-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; took second at the Caro Tournament; generated a third at a Richmond-based Division 3 individual district; plus provided a fourth at a Division 3 individual regional hosted by Richmond High School among his season accomplishments.

“He was major part of our lineup,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Chris did not hold back from anyone and stayed consistent the entire year,” he noted.

“I was glad to get him back in the lineup his senior year and see him finish it out with lifelong memories.”

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

 

Honorable mention- Cristian Rager, Imlay City, 112 pounds; Jeff Helzer, Capac, 119 pounds; Austin Herrera, Imlay City, 145 pounds; and Lance Wolford, Imlay City, 189 pounds.

Coach of the Year- For directing Imlay City to a 29-6 overall mark, top finishes at a Division 3 district and regional and a state semifinal round appearance, Spartan Coach Tony D’Ambrosio claims Tri-City Times All-Area Coach of the Year accolades.