John Raffel
Sports Scene
His 12-0 start gave Steve Malloy reason to believe that this could be a very special season for him on the Morley Stanwood wrestling mat.
In the Joe Loren Memorial Invitational December 17 at Chippewa Hills, Malloy, a junior, decisioned Joe Main of Lakeview 3-1 in the finals. Malloy was named the heavierweights’ Wrestler of the Meet.
Malloy is 12-0. It’s the first time he’s won a Wrestler of the Meet award.
“[It feels] pretty good,” he said. “I feel I’m wrestling very solid.”
Takedowns have been his strength, Malloy said, adding that he hopes to improve on top work.
Malloy “wrestled very well [at Chippewa Hills],” said Morley Stanwood coach Jeff Davis. “Hopefully he can keep it up for the rest of the season.”
Malloy is in his third year of varsity wrestling. It’s the best performance he’s had as a wrestler in his career, he indicated.
When the season ends, Malloy hopes to be on the podium at the state finals as an all-stater.
“It’s my condition level,” he said, adding that if it’s where it should be “my wrestling will be OK.”
Morley Stanwood has low numbers on the team, but it’s not a factor that should distract him, Malloy indicated.
He’s been wrestling since he was 10 years old.
“I got a phone call one day and just decided to go out and wrestle,” Malloy said.
He also plays football, and he thinks that the preparations for the two sports complement each other. He spent plenty of the season in the weight room to stay in peak condition for both sports.
The Mohawks wrestle in the Central State Activities Association (CSAA), which includes state grappling powerhouses Chippewa Hills and Hesperia. Wrestling the CSAA schedule should prepare Malloy nicely for the postseason.
“Our conference is tough with Chippewa Hills and Hesperia,” he said.
In mid-January, Malloy took first at the Lakeview Invitational.