Dan Stickradt
Sports Scene
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
NOVI — Before the start of the 2013-14 season, Detroit Catholic Central wrestling coach Mitch Hancock warned his athletes, the parents, and his fellow coaches not to mention the word “three-peat” or anything to do with repeating as state champions.
Those around Detroit Catholic Central were definitely not hindered by their silence, as the Shamrocks not only went on to capture their 11th MHSAA state championship in wrestling, which is the all-time Class A/Division 1 record, but they also posted seven convincing victories along the way, including a 15-point win over Davison — a team that beat them in the season opener.
“We have families that send their kids to Catholic Central because of its tradition,” admitted Hancock, who is starting his eighth season at the helm of one of Michigan’s prestigious programs. “But we never talk about what we did last year. It’s a distraction. Every year is a new season.”
Catholic Central pinned down then top-ranked Davison 34-19 in last year’s Division 1 state championship match for its third straight state title, the fourth in five seasons. It was the team’s fifth straight appearance in the state title match. In seven of the past eight seasons, the Shamrocks have reached at least the state quarterfinal round.
“This is all about Catholic Central High School, representing Catholic Central, the administration, the parents, and giving glory to God,” added Hancock. “We would not be able to do this without any of them. Everyone is part of the tradition.”
Catholic Central also had a record five individual state champions in the individual state tournament, had 10 wrestlers qualify for the state finals, and had 11 of 14 starters reach at least the regional round.
If the mighty Shamrocks — who opened the 2014-15 season ranked second in Division 1 behind Davison — are to accomplish anything close to what they have accomplished in recent years, they will have to reload. Although three state placers and two state champions are back in the lineup, Catholic Central will have to replace seven state placers who graduated and eight total starters that departed.
“That was a special group of young men we had last year representing our program,” said Hancock, who has a 149-32 dual match record at Catholic Central. “But you always graduate kids. That’s high school sports. What I liked about this program the last few years is our depth. We have a lot of kids that want to carry on the tradition.”
Myles Amine (140 pounds) and Trevor Zdebski (119) are the two returning state champions in the lineup who are ready to set the tone for this year’s group, which is eyeing another return to Battle Creek next February for the state quarterfinals. “Getting to Battle Creek is always the goal, the expectation for this program. We want to put ourselves into position to contend for a state championship,” said Hancock. “[This year] we will have a lot of [new starters] looking to help us out.”
Nick Giese (189) is the third state qualifier back in uniform. He placed third as a junior last year.
Malik Amine (145), Nick Bennett (152), Drew Garcia (171), Parker O’Brien (112), Evan Toth (130), Greg Johnson (135), and James Russell (215) all graduated after reaching the state finals last year, with Amine, Bennett, and Garcia winning state titles.
The Shamrocks opened up the season Dec. 10 by dropping a 40-21 decision to Brighton. Catholic Central won the Rockets Invitational at Wayne-Westland John Glenn on Dec. 13, going 5-0 on the day.
New strutters Bobby Brewer and Aaron Rehfeldt, both juniors, went undefeated. Fellow new starters Stone Moscovic, Nick Joseph, Tyler Moreland, Aidan Wagh, and Joe Lyons all went 4-1. Wagh and Mosovic are freshmen who hope to have an immediate impact on a team with multiple opportunities created by graduation losses.
“We’ll get better as the season goes,” said Hancock. “But like all years, we have kids that work hard. As soon as football and fall sports were over, we had kids back in there getting ready for the season. They want to carry on the tradition.”