Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
ST JOHNS – The St. Johns wrestling team is in the middle of the gauntlet of its season.
And it’s been a big success so far.
The Redwings beat the top-ranked team in Division 1, Detroit Catholic Central. A few days later, St. Johns, the No. 1 team in Division 2, whipped visiting Lowell, the second-ranked team in Division 2, 41-18.
“They were missing a couple of their top guys, but they brought a very solid team and gave us all we wanted, especially in certain matchups,” said St. Johns coach Zane Ballard, whose team is now 15-0 on the season. “Detroit Catholic Central and Lowell are our big-time in-state rivals, and they have been our top attention.”
Now the Redwings, the two-time defending state champions, turn their attention to a battle with national implications.
On January 28, St. Johns will travel to Lakewood, Ohio, just outside Cleveland, to take on perennial national power St. Edward High School.
Currently, St. Edward is ranked No. 2 in the nation and is and coming off a tough 27-22 loss to another national power, Blair Academy from Blairstown, New Jersey.
“We are going for them,” Ballard said. “That is our focus from now until [January 28]. And we have never lost focus of that; that’s been a goal of ours [to beat St. Edward] all season long.”
St. Edward has a history of competing and beating some of the state powers in the recent past, like the powerhouse teams from Davison and Rockford of the last decade.
It’s for that reason, and the chance to make a name for his school nationally, that has St. Johns senior Taylor Massa anticipating the matchup.
“These [matches with Detroit Catholic Central and Lowell] were good matches, but our main goal has been to beat St. Ed’s,” said Massa, the three-time undefeated state champion for the Redwings. “We were hoping they would be No. 1 in the nation when we met them, but they just lost to Blair, so they are still No. 2.”
Massa likes how his team is getting into shape for the big dual.
“I feel we are definitely ready to go; everyone is getting comfortable in their weights,” Massa said. “Some guys are banged up, but we are taking this weekend off so we are ready to go next weekend.”
St. Johns had some big individual wins over Lowell, like Jordan Wohlfert beating Jake Stehley at 160 pounds, and Massa beating Garett Stehley at 171, both by technical fall; Blake Cooper beating Luke Stephens at heavyweight; and Jacob Schmitt beating Nate Limmex at 125.