The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Chiefs hand Milan first Huron defeat
Big Reds start slow, see comeback effort fall short in 40-33 loss
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2008
With what could have been the league title in the balance, the Milan varsity wrestling team came up just short of inking its fourth league win Jan. 16, falling to New Boston 40-33.
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"We knew it was going to be a tough match," said head coach Gary Jonseck. "Unfortunately, we slipped a little bit last night.
Heading into the match, both Milan and New Boston were 3-0 in the Huron League. A win over the Chiefs would have left Milan alone in first place, having already defeated Airport, Monroe Jefferson and Grosse Ile.
But the Big Reds dropped the first four matches before Jacob Nelson (160) breathed life back into his team by getting a pin against an opponent who placed fourth at the Monroe Sheriff's tournament earlier this month.
"That was a big win for us," Jonseck said.
Dan Bailey (171) followed with a pin of his own, earning his 14th win of the season.
Warren Losee came down from 215 to take on New Boston's premier wrestler at 189 and lost on a technical fall, but he fulfilled his mission as far as Jonseck was concerned.
"Losee wrestled tough," Jonseck said. "His job was to keep it close and he did that."
After New Boston handed Sean Domas (215) only his fourth loss of the year, David Box (285) got win 32 with a pin in the first period.
Aaris Gruber (103) won on a void, but Milan handed the six points back with a void of their own at 112.
Jeff Fletcher (119) pulled the Big Reds within seven points with a determined 12-10 decision, and Dan Vivian (125) got a pin to narrow New Boston's lead to 34-33.
But in the decisive last match at 130, New Boston had Jimmy Mann, who was ranked fifth in the state last year and who caught Milan's Cody O'Keefe in a pin in the second period and secure a 40-33 win for the Chiefs.
"We've got to wrestle well in all 14 classes," Jonseck said. "The biggest challenge we face right now is getting the kids to do what we teach them in the mat room. Championships are won by the little things. I'll tell you, if you don't go out there to control the 10-foot circle, it can be the scariest six minutes of your life. We've got to control the 10-foot circle."
Milan was never able to gain traction against New Boston, Jonseck said.
"When you give up the first four matches, you give up the momentum," he said. "We were never able to really get that going."
Jonseck was more pleased with his team's performance in the second match, a 57-18 trouncing of Westland-Lutheran.
Winning matches for the Big Reds were Gruber, Vivian, O'Keefe, R.J. Gaskill (135), Tim Sims (140), David Wilson (145), Nelson, Bailey, Kyle Latta (189), Domas and Box.
Vivian (25-5) now holds the school record for most three point near falls in a season with 47.
With a 3-1 league record, the Big Reds' dual record now stands at 22-7.
"We've just got to keep our eye on the ball," said Jonseck, meaning next month's team districts.
Milan travels to Chelsea on Saturday for its last team tournament of the year before hosting St. Mary Catholic Central Jan. 23.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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