By Kristi McDevitt
Sports Correspondent
The Oxford wrestling team continued its winning ways following the Christmas break.
On Jan. 4, the Wildcats hosted Grand Blanc and Brother Rice defeating both 48-19 and 55-15 respectively.
‘Both of the other teams had some good wrestlers at a few weight classes, but they were unable to match our depth,? said Coach Paul McDevitt after the win.
In a wrestling dual meet there are 14 individual match ups, each a differentweight class. The winning wrestler scores anywhere from 3 to 6 points for his team, depending on the outcome of the match. Three to five team points are awarded for decisions based on score, six team points are awarded for pins.
‘Three or four blue chip wrestlers without a supporting cast won’t get you too far in a dual meet. We have a heck of a supporting cast this year; solid at just about every weight class? boasted McDevitt.
On Jan. 11, the Wildcats prepared for what appeared to be one of the biggest tests of the season as they played host to Waterford Kettering and Auburn Hills Avondale.
Waterford Kettering had finished 3rd at the Oakland County Tournament last month and was ranked third in the county coming in. Oxford finished fifth in the county tournament but felt confident in their dual meet lineup.
‘I know they have some really good kids in their lineup, but, as with many teams they will have a hard time matching up all with all 14 of our kids? said McDevitt prior to the meet.
Oxford won the first 5 matches, 4 of them by pin, to jump out to a 28-0 lead before Kettering scored their first victory of the night.
The Wildcats then faced the heart of Kettering’s line up and fared well, winning three and losing 3 without giving up any pins. Oxford finished the meet with 2 pins to leave the Captains speechless in a 46-19 route.
‘I was extremely impressed with our effort, especially in the third period? assistant coach Scott Couch remarked. Mike Upshur, Nathan Musgrove, Kyle Brammer, Mike May, Brent Mueller, John Logan, Nick Murray and Adam Duncan were the 9 wrestlers with victories against Kettering.
Following the impressive upset of Waterford Kettering Coach McDevitt pulled his team together to congratulate them and to warn against having a let down against Avondale.
However Avondale, like the Wildcats, proved to have an impressive team with a lot of depth. Avondale struck first and often as the Yellow Jackets methodically defeated Oxford’s wrestlers to go up 30-3 after 8 weight classes.
With only 6 weight classes remaining the outlook for the Wildcats was grim. ‘I got nervous,? McDevitt said. ‘That’s a tall order to have to pin five or six weights in a row. But once we got the pin at 171 I thought maybe we had a chance.?
Avondale’s victory at 160 was the last win the Jackets could muster as Oxfords John Logan, Nick Murray, Kam Mueller, Adam Duncan, Calvin Cavanaugh and Mike Upshur all defeated their opponents five of the six by pin to give the Wildcats a 37-30 thrilling come from behind victory.
‘We came out flat against a good Avondale team and dug our selves into a deep hole. But good teams find a way to win and I’m extremely proud of our kids for not giving up and fighting back for the win,? beamed McDevitt after the match.
The Wildcat wrestlers open up the Flint Metro League schedule this Wednesday (Jan. 18) against Lapeer East and Lapeer West at Linden High Sch
like the Wildcats, proved to have an impressive team with a lot of depth. Avondale struck first and often as the Yellow Jackets methodically defeated Oxford’s wrestlers to go up 30-3 after 8 weight classes.
With only 6 weight classes remaining the outlook for the Wildcats was grim.
‘I got nervous,? McDevitt said. ‘That’s a tall order to have to pin out five or six weights in a row. But once we got the pin at 171 I thought maybe we had a chance.?
Avondale’s victory at 160 was the last win the Jackets could muster as Oxfords John Logan, Nick Murray, Kam Mueller, Adam Duncan, Calvin Cavanaugh and Mike Upshur all defeated their opponents five of the six by pin to give the Wildcats a 37-30 thrilling come from behind victory.
‘We came out flat against a good Avondale team and dug our selves into a deep hole. But good teams find a way to win and I’m extremely proud of our kids for not giving up and fighting back for the win,? beamed McDevitt after the match.
The Wildcat wrestlers open up the Flint Metro League schedule this Wednesday (Jan. 18) against Lapeer East and Lapeer West at Linden High School.