FUEL FOR THE TEAM

Warren Woods-Tower defeats Lake Shore in district final

Ryan Radvansky felt a sense of relief when Warren Woods-Tower won a district wrestling championship.

“It’s been a rough season, but we’re slowly but surely getting better,” the senior said after the Titans defeated Lake Shore 63-15 in the finals of the Division 2 tournament at Grosse Pointe North on Wednesday.

“Winning today is going to fuel our team, and hopefully we’ll win at regionals. We’re going to work hard in the upcoming week and see what we can do.”

Warren Woods-Tower finished fifth in dual meets in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division, which produced two other district champs in Dakota and Romeo on the first day of the state tournament.

The Titans have been one of the more consistent playoff teams from Macomb County in recent years, and they took control against Lake Shore with a pin in the second bout, 12 points via voids and another pin for a 24-3 lead.

Tre Baker won by decision after two more voids added to Warren Woods-Tower’s lead, and Vinnie Provo pinned Logan Foster in 2:30 at 150 for a 45-9 advantage.

Radvansky’s pin in 45 seconds against junior Thomas Kulpa at 175 pushed the Titans’ lead to 5715.

“I set it up with a takedown,” Radvansky said. “Things just fell in my favor.”

Warren Woods-Tower defeated Grosse Pointe North in the semifinals.

“They’re young, they’re learning how to win, they’re learning how to compete,” WWT coach Greg Mayer said of his wrestlers. “They’re learning how to invest in themselves and their teammates. That’s still a process.

“Regardless of how it shakes out moving forward, if we can learn a few things along the way, then we’re moving in the right direction as a program. For a lot of these guys, it’s their first time in the lineup.”

Lake Shore started seven freshmen. Two of them, Noah VanCoppenolle and Colin Taylor, recorded pins.

Another ninth-grader, Camden Thibeaut, won by decision as he returned to action after missing two weeks with an injury.

“We’re improving,” said coach Steve Hendershot, whose team beat Eastpointe in the semifinals.

Warren Woods-Tower hosts a regional tournament on Feb. 15. The Titans take on Fitzgerald and Brother Rice meets Walled Lake Western in the semifinals.

Warren Woods-Tower has won seven consecutive regional championships, including one (2022) in Division 1.

Warren Woods-Tower 63, Lake Shore 15

215: Camden Thibeault, LS, dec. Antwon Lynn, 5-3. 285: Kyle Daniels, WWT, pinned Jesse Horne, 1:20. 106: Jakari Richardson, WWT, won by void. 113: Foley Kedzior, WWT, won by void. 120: Daniel Staniszewski, WWT, pinned Brady Nicholl, 1:34. 126: Dominic Gumtow, WWT, won by void. 132: Matt Mullins, WWT, won by void. 138: Tre Baker, WWT, dec. Wyatt Smith, 5-2. 144: Noah VanCoppenolle, LS, pinned Blake Bronson, 3:55.150: Vinnie Provo, WWT, pinned Logan Foster, 2:30. 157: Colin Taylor,

LS, pinned Xavior Brooks, 3:34. 165: Anthony Kazdiglis,

WWT, tech fall, D’Varon Galloway, 16-0. 175: Ryan Radvansky, WWT, pinned Thomas Kulpa, :45. 190: Amari Richardson, WWT, pinned Logan Kutschke, 1:13.

PHOTOS BY GEORGE POHLY — THE MACOMB DAILY Warren Woods-Tower celebrates after defeating Lake Shore in the Division 2district final at Grosse Pointe North on Wednesday.

Warren Woods-Tower’s Kyle Daniels works toward a pin against Lake Shore’s Jesse Horn in the match at 285 pounds during the Division 1district final at Grosse Pointe North on Wednesday.

Colin Taylor, right, of Lake Shore tries to get out of the grasp of Warren Woods-Tower’s Xavior Brooks during the match at 157pounds in the Division 1district final at Grosse Pointe North on Wednesday. Taylor won by pin.