The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Three Milan wrestlers hoping for big things at state
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: March 6, 2008
This is when it's supposed to get hard -- or harder.
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Three Milan wrestlers will get their first taste of just how much harder the competition is at the state finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills Thursday, when they will take on some of the finest wrestlers in the state.
None of the three Big Red juniors has been there before.
Dan Vivian (125), Jacob Nelson (160) and David Box (285) are forging a path into new territory.
It's the first time in at least a decade that three Milan wrestlers have made the state finals, according to available Michigan High School Athletic Association records.
No Milan wrestler in the past decade has placed higher than third at state.
It will not be an easy task for Box, Nelson or Vivian to better past performances.
Nelson and Vivian took the fourth spots at the Regionals in Warren and will face champions from other regions in the first round.
Nelson will have his work cut out for him when he faces an undefeated Phillip Joseph (53-0) of Lapeer East in the first round. Joseph is ranked third in the state by Michigan Grappler and took first place at the Linden Regionals.
Vivian won't have it much easier in his first bout, taking on a junior from Gaylord, Danny Sharrad, who is 53-4 and ranked sixth in the state.
Box, who became Milan's first heavyweight regional champion, enters the tournament ranked third in the state, behind No. 1 Kenyon Ellison of Niles and No. 2 Michael Schaibly of Caledonia. Ellison (46-3) and Schaibly (43-1) are making their second appearances at the state finals. Last year, Ellison placed fifth and Schaibly took sixth.
It will not be an easy go for the Milan wrestlers.
But then, again, it's not supposed to be.
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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