By Kristi McDevitt
Sports Correspondent
Although the Wildcats won their sixth straight Oxford Invitational wrestling tournament title on Thursday it wasn’t as rewarding as the others.
This year the Cats had to share the championship with another school.
Flint Powers, last year’s runner-up, finished in a tie with Oxford at 145 points each in the 12-team tournament.
‘We are happy with the championship, however we should’ve won it outright.? stated coach Paul McDevitt.
Indeed there were several lost opportunities the biggest probably coming in the 215-pound final match.
Senior captain Kam Mueller lost the final match due to injury default. He left the tournament prior to the end to get x-rays on his elbow which was wrapped in an ice bag.
‘Hopefully nothing is broken,? coach McDevitt said. ‘He’s a pretty tough kid. If it wasn’t something serious he would’ve finished the match most likely with a victory.?
Mueller trailed Chelsea’s Austin Rogers 8-4 in the final period before rallying to take a 12-9 lead with about a minute remaining.
Mueller’s arm got caught as he scored his final takedown and came crashing to the mat, yelling in pain and reaching for his right elbow.
‘He (Rogers) grabbed my arm and wrenched it down, and my body didn’t go with it,? said Mueller who lay on the mat for several minutes as trainer Andrew McDonald attended to him. ‘I was going to beat him, there was no question. He just caught me.?
Fellow captain Nick Murray commented on what could have been had Kam finished.
‘It’s tough, because he’s one of our best wrestlers,? Murray said. ‘If he (had) won, we’d be champions alone.?
Murray reflected on what he could have done as well. He gave up a point against Chad Coxon of Flint Powers due to a penalty. Murray overcame a 7-4 deficit in the final minute only to lose by a point.
‘If I hadn’t lost my head and gave up a penalty I could’ve taken the match to overtime,? Murray said.
Despite the disappointing tie, the Wildcats had several bright spots including the team championship.
Mike Upshur won the tournament title with a 20-second pin in the finals over Geoff Wonders of Chelsea in the 112-pound class.
Mike May only needed 13 seconds to pin Imlay City’s Phil Hampton in the 135-pound class final and John Logan won a tough battle in the 171-pound class to claim the championship.
Finishing runner-up for the Wildcats were Kyle Brammer (130), Zach Line(171), Nick Murray(189) and Kam Mueller (215).
Junior Brent Mueller won an exciting overtime match over Jack Baker of Imlay City in the 152-pound consolation finals to finish 3rd while teammate Bobby Rhodes(130) pinned Andrew McCarthy of Flint Powers to finish 3rd as well.
After Oxford and Flint Powers, Chelsea finished 3rd with 129 followed by Imlay City in fourth with 114.
The Wildcats are next in action this Wednesday night (Jan. 4) at the high school as they host Birmingham Brother Rice and Grand Blanc at 5:30 p.m.