By BUTCH HARMON
While a number of Michigan high schools have had periods when they dominated wrestling, few schools can boast the overall winning consistency of Holt.
In the 48 years that wrestling has been a varsity sport at Holt, the Rams have posted a winning season each and every one.
Current head coach Rocky Shaft has been involved in many of those winning seasons. He just completed his 34th season as head coach and, like the previous 33 seasons, it was another success. The Rams turned in a 26-5 record in dual meets. They also won the conference championship and a district title before falling to Hartland in the team regional.
“It was a good year,” Shaft said. “We had our ups and downs here and there, but the kids learned from those, and it was a good year. We had a good group of kids.”
The Rams had a number of highlights during the season. They began the season by travelling to North Canton, Ohio, to take part in a 33-team tournament, where they finished fourth against some of the top wrestling programs in the state of Ohio.
Holt also won its own tournament in January that included state-ranked teams Davison, Detroit Catholic Central, Bedford, and Princeton City from Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Rams also featured outstanding individual wrestlers like Benny Gomez at 112 pounds. Gomez, a 2013 state champion, took a 47-1 record into this year’s state individual finals. Martin Rodriguez also had a good year. Wrestling at 125 pounds, Rodriguez took a 41-1 record into the state finals, where he is wrestled in the 119-pound weight class.
“Benny and Martin have had great years, but we had a lot of good wrestlers this year,” Shaft said. “We had a lot of good role players and kids doing fine jobs all through the lineup. We also had a good group of younger kids step up this year.”
Wrestlers stepping up each year has been a key to Holt’s success over the years under Shaft.
“We’ve won state three times, and we finished second in the state once,” Shaft said. “We’ve never had a losing season, and the tradition of winning has been here a long time. No senior class ever wants to be the first class to have a losing season at Holt.”
An important factor in Holt’s winning seasons is the feeder program. “A big reason for our success is the Holt Wrestling Club,” Shaft said. “The kids get on the mat and receive solid instruction. You can’t ask for more than that.”
Shaft also likes his wrestlers to be involved in more than just one sport. “I’m old school in that I like the kids to do more than just one sport,” Shaft said. “Some of my best wrestlers played multiple sports. Playing different sports just helps kids overall.”
Shaft himself was a multiple-sport athlete at Holt High School. While he was an accomplished wrestler who made it to the state meet, he also played football and baseball during his playing days.
Holt wrestlers also take pride in the tradition of the program and do whatever it takes to keep the string of winning seasons going.
“The kids learn in the lower levels what it takes to be successful,” Shaft said. “They know what it takes to win, and it starts when the kids get in the program. Everyone is expected to pull their weight and step up to the plate, even a kid who may not have a winning record. They will not roll over and get pinned. If they lose by one point, they will do what it takes to get a one-point win next time.”