SOUTHGATE — After kicking off its wrestling season last month before the holiday break, the Downriver League got back into the swing of things on the mat on Wednesday night
One of the two scheduled quad meets around the DRL on Wednesday was held at Southgate Anderson, where the host Titans were joined alongside by their counterparts from Allen Park, Lincoln Park, and Taylor.Wednesday was also the first bit of competition for all four teams since returning from the holidays at various tournaments last weekend on Jan 3.
Following a pair of convincing league wins back in December, the defending DRL champion Titans from Anderson picked up where they left off as they stayed unbeaten in DRL play with two more dual victories.
The pair of wins for Anderson hosted a duals tournament this past weekend. The Titans then deployed two different teams with their more loaded ‘A’ squad going a perfect 4-0 and winning each dual by an average of over 52 points.
Anderson on Wednesday displayed a similar level of dominance as they jump backed into league play. After handling both Brownstown Woodhaven and Trenton by at least 25 points in the first DRL quad back on Dec 17, the Titans in their latest conference showing rolled to a 64-13 win over Lincoln Park before taking care of Allen Park by a final of 42-26.
A total of 13 different matmen for Anderson picked up at least one victory on Wednesday, including a handful of others with two wins. Among those who went 2-0 on the evening was the quartet of Christian Carlson (126 pounds), Nathan King (157), Liam McMillen (175), and Johnny Pardo (285).
King and McMillen were arguably the most impressive for Anderson as both of his victories were by fall. Both of the latter’s victories happened before the conclusion of the first round. Carlson and Pardo meanwhile each had one pin as well against Lincoln Park opponents before later earning major decision victories vs their Allen Park counterparts.
Anderson also saw Devin Sears (113) and Sam Willhelm (120) each formally finish 2-0 on the day. The former Sears only wrestled once, earning a major decision win vs Allen Park’s Deacon Ashmore, while Willhelm won both of his bouts via forfeit.
Allen Park and Lincoln Park salvaged splits on the day as each picked up wins over Taylor. The former cruised to a 68-12 win over Taylor, while the latter held off a late rally from the Griffins and settled for a 41-33 victory.
Wednesday was the first taste of DRL action this winter for Allen Park, who like Anderson saw six wrestlers formally turn in 2-0 individual records. Among those were Francis Palazzo (132) and Marcus Tuccini (138), each of whom tallied pins in the first 30 seconds vs Taylor foes before later winning their bouts vs Anderson counterparts.
The freshman Tuccini won his second match via a pin as well.
Allen Park also saw the trio of Jason Mifsud (150), Samson Vucson (190), and Zachary VanEtten (215) all finish 2-0 as well with each picking up a pin as part of their evening. Mifsud’s first victory was by technical fall vs Taylor, while Vucson and VanEtten each had to grind out decisions vs Anderson.
The Jags also saw Gage Kirby go 2-0 on the day. After winning via a Taylor void, the freshman was strong in his lone official match, pinning Anderson’s Jaiden Rivera-Pepper in the first 50 seconds.
Lincoln Park meanwhile goes 1-1 in a DRL quad for the second time in as many meets after splitting their duals back on Dec 17 at Gibraltar Carlson.
Wednesday was another strong showing for the middle weight matmen of the Railsplitters as Jaysean DeJesus (144), Diego Buendia (150), and Sa’Darion Holloway (165) all finished the night 2-0. Both DeJesus and Buendia had pins vs Taylor after winning by decisions vs Anderson, while Holloway won both of his bouts by technical fall and major decision.
Lincoln Park elsewhere saw freshmen Katee Motzer (106) pick up a win in her lone match of the evening, defeating Taylor’s Brooke Adams by fall.
As for Taylor, they fall to 0-4 in Downriver League play after previously being handed losses by both Woodhaven and Trenton back before Christmas.
Despite their struggles in the duals on Wednesday, the Griffins did get a strong individual showing from Aiden Huziar (157). The sophomore won both of his bouts via the pin.
Taylor also saw Hope Norris (120) finish 2-0 as well. After winning her first math via a void from Allen Park, the junior in her only bout of the quad won by fall.
UP NEXT
The DRL will hold its third of five scheduled meets next Wednesday, Jan 14.
Both Anderson and Taylor will venture over to Wyandotte Roosevelt for a quad that also features Carlson. The other quad will be situated over at Allen Park, where the host Jags as well as Lincoln Park will take on Woodhaven and Trenton.
Photo gallery of a Downriver League wrestling quad at Southgate Anderson
