Cardinals defeat Hurons on criteria, lose to Oscoda
by Angie Asam-Staff Writer
For the second time this season Onaway hosted a tri-meet featuring county rival Rogers City and when the two faced off the match was a 42-42 tie. Both times the Cardinals have taken the victory on criteria for scoring the most first points in individual matches.
The dual started at 189 pounds with Lucas Tollini winning by void. At 215 pounds Elijah Shockley won by void and the Cardinals led 12-0. At heavyweight Keegan Freel worked a hard fought pin over Chandler Beland to make the score 18-0.
Onaway then voided at 103 and 112 and the score was 18-12. Joe Traynham made quick work of Tommy Vogelheim at 119 and Zeke Nave pinned Tristan Baller at 125 pounds and the Cardinals led 30-12. Ray Self won by pin at 130 pounds to take the lead to 36-12.
The match that sealed the deal for the Cardinals was a long fought battle by Jesse Watson and Zachary Myers when Watson was able to pin Myers late in the match to increase the Cardinal lead to 42-12.
Rogers City won by pin at 140, void at 145, pin at 152, void at 160 and void at 171 to tie the score at 42. When a wrestling match is tied it goes to a set of criteria, one of those criteria is most first points scored, Onaway had more of those and took the match.
Earlier in the evening the Cardinals fell to Oscoda 42-39 in a match that just as easily could have come down to criteria. Onaway voided 171 pounds to begin the dual but a pin by Shockley at 189 tied the match at six. Freel won by pin at 215 and Onaway voided 285 to make the score 12-12.
Zac Stiles won by void at 103 to give the Cardinals the 18-12 lead but a void at 112 tied the match again. Traynham won by pin at 119 and Nave won by void at 125 and the Cardinals led 30-18.
Self followed with a pin at 130 to increase the lead to 36-18. Watson and Devin Tulgestke lost by pin at 135 and 140 respectively and the score was 36-30. Kyle Campbell had to injury default at 145 pounds after suffering an arm injury and the score was tied at 36. Onaway voided 152 pounds to give Oscoda the 42-36 lead. Troy Klein needed a pin to tie the match but was unable to turn his opponent winning 8-2 and the Cardinals fell by just three points.
Onaway will again take on Rogers City at team districts in Charlevoix Feb. 12.
SATURDAY THE Cardinals traveled to Sanford Meridian for a 17-team tournament. Onaway took just six wrestlers down with many athletes out due to illness.
Watson (135) was 3-2 on the day and finished in sixth place. “He had a good day and was one of only two Cardinals to find their way to the medal stand,” said coach Mark Grant.
Campbell (145) made his debut on the mats and wrestled tough. “He did not find a win down there but we were impressed with his aggressive movement and how hard he battled. I think he has fou
Juan Janeczak (152) started the day with a tough loss before rebounding with two wins but fell short of the medal round. Klein (160) and Tollini (171) went 2-2 on the day.
Shockley (189) finished fourth on the day. After a pin over the number-four seed he fell to the number-one seed and was winning his match for third place before getting pinned to end his day.
“I thought the guys wrestled well but they are all capable of more an that is what we will try to get out of them in the coming weeks,” said coach Grant.
The Cardinals are at the 33-team Gaylord Northern Michigan Championships Saturday and will be in St. Ignace Wednesday in the final regular-season match. The conference tournament is in Rogers City Feb. 7 and the postseason begins with team districts Feb. 12.