BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
Dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
NOVI — It’s hard to place Novi Detroit Catholic Central, wrestling and rebuilding in one sentence. That’s because it seldom happens.
The Shamrocks, one of Michigan’s premier wrestling programs dating back to the 1970s, apparently do not rebuild…they reload.
Such as the case in 2015-16.
Catholic Central, which is tied for second all-time with Temperance Bedford with 11 total team state championships – Division 4 New Lothrup leads Michigan with 14 titles – reached the state quarterfinals with a large senior class last season.
The Shamrocks are likely even better this season.
Catholic Central just took over the top spot in the Division 1 state rankings with a victory over previously No. 1-ranked Hartland, another one of the state’s most consistent programs.
“We always have high expectations at Catholic Central, as Christians, students and as athletes,” reminded head coach Mitch Hancock. “All of our kids understand the tradition of our wrestling program and the commitment it takes to be successful. Every year we graduate kids and that gives younger guys who have worked hard a chance to move up (into the starting lineup).”
CC finished 22-4 following last year’s defeat to Davison (35-28) in the quarterfinals. With a 10-1 record this year, Catholic Central helped validate its cause by winning its record seventh-straight prestigious Oakland County Championships title Dec. 18-19.
The Shamrocks racked up 330 points to easily outdistance runner-up Clarkston (274) and a field of over 40 schools at the two-day event.
“I think what’s impressive is not just our score, but the fact that we had (top-eight) placers in 12 of the 14 weight classes,” noted Hancock, who entered the season with a 171-36 career record over eight seasons. “In the previous years, I don’t think we’ve ever had that many placers. That’s quite an accomplishment considering how many wrestling teams there are in Oakland County and all of the great competition. It’s very gratifying knowing all of the history of wrestling in Oakland County.”
Rhett Newton (103), Kevon Davenport (125), Cameron Amine (130) and Tyler Morland (189) all won titles for Catholic Central. Nick Jenkins (285), Aaron Rehfeldt (135) and Tyler Johnson (145) also finished third to back up CC’s top-flight effort.
Amine is one of three nationally-ranked freshmen in the Shamrocks’ lineup and one of four ninth-grade prospects in the team’s starting lineup. Stone Moskovic (119) finished as a runner-up at the county and is another highly-touted freshman along with Newton and Davenport.
Rehfeldt is a senior, while Morland and Jenkins are both juniors. The trio all qualified for the individual state finals last year.
The aforementioned Johnson (152), Joe McGrath (140) and Conor Cox (171) are also quality seniors who could shine this winter.
“We have a great group of hard-working kids,” reminded Hitchcock of his team’s blue-collar mentality. “We come to work hard at every practice and we go to each competition with expectations of getting better each time out on the mat. By the end of the season, we always have to have the mindset that we can compete for a spot in the state tournament and compete for a title. We have such a great tradition at CC and we always expect to live up to that.”