IMLAY CITY — The Imlay City wrestling team has excelled again, this time around returning from the Division 3 individual state finals with four placewinning performances.
The tournament was contested last Friday and Saturday at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Anthony D’Ambrosio notched the best Imlay City showing, bringing home a third at 150 pounds.
D’Ambrosio began his stint at states Friday when he pinned Durand’s Drew Alward with 3:55 gone.
He then went to 2-0 with a 4-3 quarterfinal win against Corunna’s Decklan Davis.
D’Ambrosio faced Dundee’s Kole Katschor next. Their Friday semifinal bout ended with Katschor, who would go on to place first, up 6-4.
Imlay City 132-pounder Dominic D’Ambrosio (L) placed fifth in his weight class at states.
Those outcomes placed D’Ambrosio in Saturday’s consolation semifinals. It was there he picked up a 6-4 victory over Lakeville’s Fred Hammond, the eventual sixth-place finisher.
D’Ambrosio then squared off versus Whitehall’s Darnell Mack for third place honors next. Their clash drew to a close with the Imlay City wrestler registering a 3-2 triumph.
With his performance, D’Ambrosio claimed All-State accolades (given to the top-eight finishers in each weight class).
D’Ambrosio wrapped up the year with a 50-7 record.
Dominic D’Ambrosio provided Imlay City with a fifth at 132 pounds.
D’Ambrosio started things off Friday with a bye.
He then dropped a 12-2 quarterfinal verdict to Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Michael Wilson, the eventual runnerup.
D’Ambrosio then squared off versus Kingsley’s Cameron Dundas next. It was there he finished Friday’s action by pinning his Kingsley rival with 1:59 gone.
That earned D’Ambrosio a spot in Saturday’s action.
It was there he pinned Quincy’s Jacob Reif (the eventual eighth-place finisher) with 2:08 gone, before dropping a 6-1 verdict to Alma’s Buddy Leonard (the eventual third-place finisher).
D’Ambrosio then met Chippewa Hills foe-Tyler Geer for fifth place honors. That contest would see him prevail via a pin with 4:09 gone.
For his performance, D’Ambrosio garnered All-State honors (given to the top-eight finishers in each weight class).
D’Ambrosio concluded the season with a 56-5 mark.
Christopher Galiana gave Imlay City a sixth at 120 pounds.
Galiana opened his stint at states Friday with an 8-0 win against Big Rapids foe Brett Root.
He then went 1-1 with a 5-4 quarterfinal loss to Lakewood’s Ashton Clark, the eventual fifth-place finisher.
Galiana met Napoleon’s Brendon Yob next. Their Friday bout ended with Galiana ahead 4-3.
Those outcomes landed him a spot in Saturday’s action.
Galiana was then defeated 4-3 by Algonac’s Lucky Gartin, the eventual third-place finisher.
That placed him in the fifth-place match versus Lakewood’s Ashton Clark. That battle saw Clark pull out a 5-0 victory.
With his performance, Galiana claimed All-State accolades (awarded to the top-eight finishers in each weight class).
Galiana finished the year with a 51-13 record. Latham Perry added an eighth at 215 pounds to Imlay City’s cause.
Perry began his stint at states Friday with a 4-3 loss to Williamston’s Luke Chambers.
He then evened his mark at 1-1 against Tawas foe Max Herrick with a 10-2 win.
Perry followed that up Friday with a 6-4 victory over Cheboygan’s Robert LaPointe.
Those outcomes advanced Perry to Saturday’s action.
It was there Perry dropped a 5-3 verdict to Lakeville’s Blake Lalonde, the eventual sixth-place finisher.
He then met Williamston’s Luke Chambers next for seventh place honors. Their battle drew to a close with Chambers prevailing 3-1 by sudden victory.
For his effort, Perry garnered All-State plaudits (given to the top-eight finishers in each weight class).
He wrapped up the season with a 45-14 mark.
Tanner Land also represented Imlay City at the Division 3 state finals, going 1-2.
He started things off Friday with a 16-0 loss to Gladstone’s Drew Hansen, the eventual third-place finisher.
Land then watched his mark go to 1-1 when he pinned by Hartford’s Ernesto Rodarte with 4:35 gone.
Needing a win to secure All-State accolades, Land faced Mason County Central’s Hunter Sanford next. Their battle drew to a close when the Imlay City grappler lost on injury time.
With the decision, Land completed the year with a 38-14 record.
Kevin Kissane
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.
