Times names top wrestlers

TRI-CITY AREA — From their first bout until the last, these grapplers excelled with their respective performances out on the mat.

Here is a look at who earned a spot on the 2022-23 edition of The Tri-City Times All-Area wrestling team and the credentials they notched along the way.

Cierra Helzer, Capac, 105 pounds.

Helzer put together a 12-10 record, good enough for a success clip of 54.5 percent, while collecting six
pins during the 2022-23 season.

The sophomore earned a second at the Mount Morris Girls’ Tournament; registered a third at regional Blue 2 in Hartland; plus pulled up eighth (claiming All-State recognition) at the girls’ state finals hosted by Detroit’s Ford Field.

“We were really excited when Cierra decided to come back to wrestling after taking a few years off,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. She did an amazing job juggling both wrestling and cheer,” he noted.

Every day she was at practice she was one of the hardest workers in the room. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her.”

This was her first year on Capac’s squad.

Tyler McKenney, Capac, 106 pounds.

McKenney fashioned a 38-12 mark, a success rate of 76 percent, with 23 pins this winter.

The sophomore took first at the Richmond-based George Hamblin Invitational and Greater Thumb Conference Tournament in Vassar; obtained seconds at a Manchester-based Division 4 district and Bad Axe Individual Tournament; collected a third at a Division 4 regional in Hudson; plus provided a seventh (good for All-State accolades) at the Division 4 state finals hosted by Detroit’s Ford Field.

McKenney also was second in the 113-pound weight class at the Mayville-based Ryan Mercer Invitational.

“Tyler as always stepped up for us this year,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “We wrestled him at three different weight classes and he never complained even though he would sometimes be giving up 15-plus pounds,” he noted.

“He worked hard and that paid off this year with him being an All-Stater.

This was his second year on Capac’s squad.

Tanner Land, Imlay City, 113 pounds.

Land produced a 38-14 record, good enough for a success clip of 73.1 percent, while collecting 21 pins during the 2022-23 campaign.

The sophomore provided seconds at the Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and a Division 3 district in Mount Morris; obtained a fourth at a Richmond-based regional; plus furnished a sixth at the New Lothrop Tournament.

“He is a great asset to the team,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Tanner is consistently competing at an elite level and is always ready to wrestle,” he noted.

“He had a great season and now a two-time state qualifier. Tanner is never out of a match and proved that with several tough opponents. We are excited to have him in the program for the next two seasons.”

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

Christopher Galiana, Imlay City, 120 pounds.

Galiana put together a 51-13 record, good enough for a success clip of 79.6 percent, with 27 pins this winter.

The sophomore supplied a third at the Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and at a Division 3 district in Mount Morris; generated a fourth at a Richmond-based regional; registered a fifth at the New Lothrop Tournament; plus contributed a sixth (claiming All-State recognition) during the Division 3 state finals hosted by Ford Field in Detroit.

“He is a fierce competitor,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Chris is always pushing himself in the practice room and it shows in his matches,” he noted.

“We are very proud of him for collecting All-State honors and winning over 50 matches against quality competition. We are excited for his future because we know he has high expectations and is willing to put in the time it takes to succeed.”

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

In addition to his All-State accolades, Galiana earned his team’s Ironman Award.

Jeff Helzer, Capac, 120 pounds.

Helzer notched a 25-23 mark, good enough for a success clip of 52.1 percent, with 15 pins during the 2022-23 campaign.

The senior obtained a fifth at the Ryan Mercer Invitational in Mayville; registered a sixth at the Richmond-based George Hamblin Invitational; and notched a seventh during the Bad Axe Individual Tournament.

Helzer also added fourth in the 126-pound weight class at the Vassar-based Greater Thumb Conference Tournament.

“He had a tough year battling a shoulder injury but he showed up and worked hard,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. Unfortunately, he was in a tough weight class and this year did not go as planned,” he noted.

“We will definitely miss having Jeff in the room and our lineup.”

This was his fourth season on Capac’s squad.

Julian Rojas, Imlay City, 126 pounds.

Rojas managed a 40-5 mark, a success rate of 88.9 percent, with 17 pins this winter.

The senior listed a second at the New Lothrop Tournament among his accomplishments.

“He will create a huge spot to fill in our lineup next year,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Julian collected his 100th career win for us this season,” he noted.

“He has developed into an elite wrestler and intends to continue his work at Rochester University. “It has been an honor for us coaches to have been able to watch him grow over the years. He leaves behind a lot of great memorable moments. We look forward to hearing about his continued success in the future.

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

Rojas was one of Imlay City’s captains this past season.

Dominic D’Ambrosio, Imlay City, 132 pounds.

D’Ambrosio generated a 56-5 mark, a success rate of 91.5 percent, with a school record-setting 41 pins this winter.

The junior earned firsts at the Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament and a Division 3 district in Mount Morris; placed second at the New Lothrop Tournament; wound up third at a Richmond-based regional; supplied a fifth at New Lothrop Tournament; plus generated a fifth (claiming All-State recognition) during the Division 3 state finals at Ford Field in Detroit.

“He has been on the wrong side of the outcome just eight times in three seasons and has won over 100 matches,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambosio commented. “That is a great accomplishment since he only had about 14 matches his freshman year due to COVID,” he noted.

“He is starting to put in more and more extra work each season. Dominic is helping his teammates get better along the way.”

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

D’Ambrosio, one of Imlay City’s captains and the recipient of his team’s MVP Award, was also a Division 3 Academic All-State honoree.

Derek Mason, Capac, 138 pounds.

Mason supplied a 30-11 record, good enough for a success clip of 73.2 percent, while collecting 18 pins during the 2022-23 campaign.

The senior provided a second at the Vassar-based Greater Thumb Conference Tournament and obtained a third at the Bad Axe Individual Tournament.

“He had a very tough year battling a severe knee injury in one of the toughest weights in our division,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “Derek never complained and just wanted to wrestle,” he noted.

“Every time we got to his weight I didn’t have to worry because I knew Derek was going to go put it down. He will definitely be missed in our lineup,” he noted.

This was his fourth year on Capac’s squad.

Conner Wildie, Imlay City, 138 pounds.

Wildie managed a 34-11 mark, a success rate of 75.6 percent, with 22 pins this winter.

The junior also collected a third at the Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament along the way.

“He is sneaky great,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Conner is unconventional and still gets the job done,” he noted.

“We don’t worry when Conner gets out on the mat. We just sit back and watch him go. He is super competitive and gets fired up for his matches. We are happy to have him in the lineup for another season. He is already putting in the extra work to build on.”

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

Anthony D’Ambrosio, Imlay City, 150 pounds.

D’Ambrosio put together a 50-7 record, good enough for a success clip of 87.7 percent, while collecting 19 pins during the 2022-23 campaign.

The senior provided firsts at the Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; a Division 3 district in Mount Morris and a Richmond-based Division 3 regional; pulled up second at the New Lothrop Tournament; plus registered a third (claiming All-State recognition) during the Division 3 state finals hosted by Ford Field in Detroit.

“He has been a team player from day one,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “Anthony has helped build the team and put the team’s needs above his own,” he noted.

He finished his final season with over 100 career wins. Anthony had a great season winning those close matches against some of the best wrestlers in the state. His conviction showed when he fought his way back to third place at states after having a close semifinal match. It was a great way to end a career.”

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

D’Ambrosio, one of Imlay City’s captains and the recipient of his team’s Wrestler of the Year Award, was also a Division 3 Academic All-State honoree.

John Schoen, Capac, 157 pounds.

Schoen wound up with a 40-13 mark, a success clip of 75.5 percent, with 25 pins this winter.

He obtained a second at the Vassar-based Greater Thumb Conference Tournament; supplied a third at the Ryan Mercer Invitational in Mayville and at Manchester-based Division 4 district; supplied a fifth at the Bad Axe Individual Tournament; plus added a sixth at the George Hamblin Invitational in Richmond.

“He has been one of the hardest workers in the room for a few years,” Capac Coach Jacob Nemecek commented. “John is always there to help the younger kids and push the older ones,” he noted.

“He battled every year and helped grow our program. We didn’t have to worry about John when he was on the mat; he knew what we wanted and what he had to do. He is a great young man and we will miss him next year.

This was his fourth year on Capac’s squad.

Latham Perry, Imlay City, 215 pounds.

Perry generated a 45-15 record, good enough for a success clip of 75 percent, while collecting 31 pins during the 2022-23 campaign.

The senior registered seconds at the New Lothrop Tournament and Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; obtained a second at a Division 3 regional in Richmond; wound up fourth at a Mount Morris-based Division 3 district; plus earned an eighth (good to secure All-State accolades) during the Division 3 state finals hosted by Ford Field in Detroit.

“He started his career in middle school and ended it as an All-Stater,” Imlay City Coach Tony D’Ambrosio commented. “We are extremely proud of him and he will be missed,” he noted.

“With the grind of wrestling we can always count on Latham to to have a positive attitude and lighten the room. He has put up some big wins and is never out of a match. One of his biggest accomplishments was collecting his 100th career win milestone in the blood round at the state finals. Latham never crumbles under pressure and always puts in his best effort.

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

Perry was one of Imlay City’s team captains during the 2022-23 campaign.

Honorable mention– Gabe Peters, Capac, 106 pounds; Luca Longo, Capac, 113 pounds; Travis Dupont, Imlay City, 144 pounds; Ava Klink, Capac, 155 pounds; Thomas Clowers, Capac, 175 pounds; and Blake Phillips, Capac, 190 pounds.

Coach of the Year– For directing Imlay City to top finishes at a pair of dual tournaments it hosted and the Carrollton Tournament; a third at the Richmond-based Blue Water Area Conference Tournament; and a 34-7 overall mark, Tony D’Ambrosio earns Tri-City Times All-Area first team accolades.