‘A WEIRD YEAR’
Dakota moves on from district that ‘looked different’
There was no hysteria, no crescendo of crowd noise, no rush of teammates trying to get their hands on the championship trophy.
This was a team wrestling district tournament in the COVID era, a relatively subdued exercise for a sport normally brimming with emotion.
“It looked different, didn’t it?” Chippewa Valley coach Andy Denryter said after his team lost to Dakota in a Division 1 district on the Big Reds’ mat Wednesday.
“Everybody is trying to make the right decisions for their program and their kids,” Denryter continued after a tournament that sped along with one team not participating and several matches decided by voids.
“We want to give kids a chance to compete (in individual districts) on Saturday. And having respect for the sport, you want the best teams to move on.”
There has been no question in recent years that Dakota is one of the better teams in Macomb County and beyond.
The Cougars’ 58-12 victory over Chippewa Valley gave them nine consecutive district championships.
At De La Salle Collegiate on Wednesday, Dakota will go for a sixth straight regional crown.
The Cougars face Lakeview and Warren-Mott takes on De La Salle in semifinal matches at 5 p.m., and the final is scheduled to start at 6:30.
“They want to wrestle the best kids,” Dakota coach Ed Skowneski Jr. said of his team. “These kids aren’t afraid of anybody.”
The Cougars are led by two-time state champion Brendan Ferretti, who wrestles at 130 pounds; undefeated Caleb Weiand at 103 and Orion Wilson at 119.
Against Chippewa Valley, Austin Alkazir’s decision at 135 gave the Cougars a 28-0 lead.
Dakota then accepted voids at two classes, gave up six points with a void of its own, and then Robbie Dameron won by pin at 160 pounds for a 46-6 lead.
“This has been a weird year, obviously,” Skowneski said. “I don’t think there’s any team that hasn’t been hit with COVID at some point.
“Every day you’re asking your kids how they feel. We’re testing. We’re taking temperatures and asking questions, but it feels good to get out here and win another team district title.”
Skowneski said the emotional toll of the season has been as significant as the physical.
“It’s a shortened season, so you would think, ‘OK, it’s not as tough,’” Skowneski said. “But you have to work out. You have to get in shape. There’s no messin’ around.
“On any given day, someone’s season can be done. It’s happened to us. I know it’s happened to other teams in the area as well.
“The kids work so hard for something, and it might be taken away at any moment, and it might not be their fault. That’s what makes it emotionally tough.”
Ford and Romeo wrestle at the Clarkston Division 1 regional Wednesday. The Falcons meet Stoney Creek and the Bulldogs take on Clarkston at 5:30. The championship match is at 7 p.m.
In Division 2, host Warren Woods-Tower wrestles Bishop Foley and Ferndale meets Redford Thurston at 5 p.m. Winners meet at 6:30.
In Division 3, host Richmond battles Algonac and Notre Dame Prep meets Lutheran Westland at 5:30. The title match is at 7 p.m.