The old saying is revenge is a dish best served cold, and that is exactly what Davison did on Thursday, Dec. 8.
Davison gave Oxford’s varsity wrestlers an unfriendly and cold welcome to the 2011-12 season by thumping the Wildcats 42-18, avenging the school’s district loss.
‘It was a wake-up call to say the least,? varsity wrestling head coach Brandon Rank said. ‘We didn’t look like Oxford wrestling…it didn’t look like our hard, physical style (and) we didn’t look particularly good in the third period. It looked like the first match of the year.?
‘That’s a strong Davison team and they showed up to wrestle, and we need to show up to wrestle everyday,? Rank added.
Only four wrestlers managed to score points for the Wildcats – senior Noah Cantara (135) and junior Rocco Borg (145) each scored a decision, while senior Prescott Line captured a pinfall at 215 and sophomore Zack Wood got a void at heavyweight.
According to Rank, Davison got their ‘wake-up call? the night before when they wrestled division one state title favorite Novi Detroit Catholic Central and got beat 54-9.
‘Our wake-up call came a day later unfortunately,? Rank said. ‘It’s one of those things that’s it’s a process and we will get by. It’s almost square one, fundamentals, and we are going to have to get back to some of those things.?
The Wildcats rebounded nicely on Saturday, Dec. 10 as they took first place at the Corunna Invite and placed in every single weight class.
‘The kids stepped up,? Rank said. ‘Some kids beat some pretty good kids, and some kids had some close losses to some pretty darn good kids too.?
Finishing first for the Wildcats were senior Kyle Hill (130), Borg (145), Line (215) and Wood (285).
Line was also named the Invite’s Most Valuable Wrestler for the upper weight classes (145 to heavyweights).
Taking second for Oxford were junior Dan Curtis (112), freshmen Anthony Moore (119), freshmen Adam Schlicht (125), sophomore Mike Willits (135) and Cantara (140). Placing third were freshmen Collin Campbell (103), sophomore Wesley Maskill (152), sophomore Zeb Throne (160), junior Marty Giannola (171) and junior Liam Logan (189).
Rank said he was most impressed by Hill’s performance.
‘He is stepping into his leadership role very well. He goes out and wrestles in Oxford style – like a wildcat fighting tooth and nail for every point,? Rank said.
Rank added it was a good weekend to see where his team was at.
‘The kids are getting better every day, so by the end of the year I think we are going to be where we want to be,? Rank said. ‘We just got some tough challenges with some of our league teams and state ranked teams coming up, and we are going to get through those first and foremost.?
Up next for Oxford is the Oakland County tournament, which takes place at Oxford Middle School on Friday, Dec. 16 and Saturday, Dec. 17.