The Milan News-Leader
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Milan ready for postseason
Big Reds hope to get healthy before hosting districts Wednesday
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 8, 2007
With the regular season winding down, the Milan varsity wrestling squad is revving up for individual and team districts, which kick off next week.
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Milan hopes to move into districts on a roll, coming off its final league dual against Flat Rock Thursday and a respectable showing at the league meet Saturday.
The key, said head coach Gary Jonseck, will be going in with a healthy and determined squad.
That wasn't the case, in terms of health, at the Battle Creek Central Invitational last Saturday as the Big Reds placed seventh out of 12 teams.
Milan had three starters out sick.
"I was very happy with the performance our kids turned in," Jonseck said.
Sophomore Dan Vivian captured Milan's first championship at the tournament, posting a 4-0 record at 119 pounds. In the finals, he faced a Linden wrestler who last year placed sixth at state and had a 30-1 record. Vivian beat him 3-2.
"Dan had an outstanding weekend," Jonseck said.
Vivian now has a record of 35-8.
Sophomore Josh Ford (130) also delivered a strong performance, coming away with a 3-1 record and placing fifth, only two points out of the top four.
Freshman Cody O'Keefe (125) went 2-2 to finish sixth as did senior Aaris Gruber at 103 pounds, freshman Warren Louse (189) and junior Jake Hill (285). Josh McDonald, Aaron Householder and Garrett Gimson also posted 2-2 records.
Jonseck said he was pleased to see his wrestlers ready and willing to compete. He hopes to see the same at districts.
"We're going to compete at the highest level we can," he said. "If you're not afraid to lose, good things can happen. You can't be afraid to lose, you have to be afraid to compete."
Wednesday afternoon, after press time, the Big Reds learned they would face Adrian and Tecumseh in the first round of districts. As the hosting school, Milan does not have a bye option.
For the past two years, Milan has drawn Tecumseh in the first round and run into a brick wall. The Indians are ranked fourth in Division 2.
"We look forward to the opportunity to wrestle Tecumseh," Jonseck said. "And if we get Adrian in the first round, I hope we beat them so we can wrestle Tecumseh. It should be exciting."
The team districts are Feb. 14 at Milan High School.
The individual districts begin Feb. 17, and Jonseck likes the chances of getting four to five Milan wrestlers out of the first round.
"I've had lots of kids with a .500 record get hot at this time of year and really surprise people," he said. "Anything can happen at these meets."
Big Red wrestlers emerging out of districts will get to return to their home gym to wrestle in the regionals Feb. 24.
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