The Milan News-Leader
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Big Reds go 3-2 at tourney
Season record now up to 21-12 after "great job" at Chelsea
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: January 25, 2007
The Milan Big Reds may have had one of their best wrestling performances of the season at the Chelsea Team Invitational Jan. 20. Milan went 3-2, upping their overall dual record to 21-12.
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"The kids really stepped up and did a great job," said coach Gary Jonseck. "We wrestled very well."
The Big Reds came out storming, defeating Chelsea 48-22. Milan lost the first few matches, and had to reverse the momentum, Jonseck said.
The Big Reds then defeated Allen Park 48-27 before stubbing their toe against L'anse Creuse, falling 48-21.
"We just didn't match up well with L'anse Creuse," Jonseck said. "Not to take anything away from them, they're a good wrestling program, but we could have done better."
Coming off the loss, the Big Reds charged back against Onsted, handily defeating the team 52-27. Milan lost to Onsted earlier in the season in the finals of the Onsted Team Invitational. Jonseck said winning the re-match not only boosted Milan's confidence, but validated his team's hard work.
"The essence behind the confidence is the work ethic," Jonseck said. "The kids are really seeing the hard work starting to pay off."
In the last match, Fowlerville edged Milan 39-36 in a back-and-forth meet. It came down to the last weight class.
"It was a great dual," Jonseck said. "It could have gone either way."
Milan led 30-27 with three weight classes to go. Fowlerville got pins at 130 and 135 to pull ahead. Isaac Smith's win at 140 drew the Big Reds to within three, which proved the final margin.
Earlier in the meet, Cody O'Keefe upset Fowlerville's Brandon Lee at 125 and Dan Vivian (119) dominated a freshman opponent that Jonseck described as an outstanding wrestler.
Going 4-1 for the Big Reds at the tournament were Vivian and Smith, Jacob Nelson (145), and Sean Domas (215). Garrett Gimson (152) went 3-1.
Two days earlier, Milan took on Huron League rival New Boston Huron and Bloomfield Hills-Andover. The Big Reds blanked the young Bloomfield team 76-0, but fell to New Boston 40-22.
"New Boston is a very good team," Jonseck said. "We had our opportunities but we couldn't maximize them. We'll get another chance at (New Boston) at the league meet (Feb. 10) and we'll see what we can muster up."
The loss dropped Milan's league record to 2-2. The two wins came against Grosse Ile and Monroe Jefferson. The other loss was to powerhouse Airport.
Winning both of their matches at the dual were Aaris Gruber (103), Jayme Gruber (135) and Jacob Hill (285).
The Big Reds now prepare to launch into a series of league meets, next facing St. Mary Catholic Central on Thursday, Riverview Feb. 1, and wrapping up the regular season against Flat Rock Feb. 8, two days before the league meet.
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