Welcome

MWA Classic - June 18, 2008

Wednesday, June 18, 2008
6:30 PM
Hartland High School, Hartland, MI
Admission: $5

Official Program Preview

Video Coverage on Flowrestling

Schedule of Events
12:00 Check-in for Wrestlers
12:30 Practice for wrestlers and coaches
2:00 Weigh-in
2:30 Lunch
3:30 Interviews for flowrestling.com and wrestlingaddix.com
4:00 MSU Staff
4:30 CMU Staff
5:00 U of M Staff
6:30 Introductions

Matchups:

Weight	Black	Gold	Result
103	Derrick VanderWall, Muskegon Reeths Puffer	Andrew Brackins, Waterford Kettering	Brakins Pin
112	Terrance Frank, Grand Blanc	Tyler James, Grand Rapids Central	Frank Decision 8-2
119	Bret Marsh, Dexter	Jon Hayward, Marlette	Marsh Decision 7-0
125	Mykel Sumner, Addison	Steve Light, St. Clair Shores Lakeview	Light Decision 6-3
125	Dan Sabin, Grand Haven	Zac Stevens, Monroe	Stevens Tech 20-5
130	Christian Cullinan, Wyandotte Roosevelt	Dylan Mooney, Linden	Cullinan Decision 9-8
135	Cody Dunn, Leslie	Garrett Rozeboom, Mason	Rozeboom Decision 7-4
135	Tharin Wilk, Rogers City	Steve Cox, Canton	Wilk Decision 5-3
140	Robert Weirich, Tecumseh	Glen Sible, Williamston	Weirich Major 13-2
145	Deven Brown, Carlton Airport	Jeremy Bommarito, Hartland	Bommarito Major 8-0
152	Corey Robinson, Caro	Jake Varilek, Lake Orion	Robinson Decision 10-7
152	Alex Ortman, Temperance Bedford	Kyle Lund, Lakeview	Ortman Pin
160	Andy Anderson, Traverse City St. Francis	Jordan Young, Remus Chippewa Hills	Anderson Decision 7-3
171	Max Sall, Trenton	Jacob Burge, Mason	Burge Tech 24-9
189	Matt Skrzypczak, Bay City Central	*Jacob Burge, Mason	*Burge Pin
215	Travis Pettengill, Flint Kearsley	Jimmy Rowe, Dundee	Pettengill Decision 7-3
285	Monte Fouchey, Oscoda	DJ Charneski, Hartland	Charneski Pin

*At 189, a wrestler from the Gold team did not show, so technically Black gets 6 by forfeit. To give Skrzypczak a match, the dual started at 189 with Burge wrestling Skrzypczak and then the dual ended at 171 with Burge wrestling again at his official weight.

Mr. Wrestler 2008

The Michigan Wrestling Association has selected Ben Bennett from Rockford High School as Michigan's Mr. Wrestler 2008. This award goes to a senior wrestler recognized as the top Wrestler in Michigan for 2008.

Ben was a three time State Champion and finished 3rd as a sophomore. He was the 2008 Senior National Champion and recognized with the Outstanding Wrestler Award. MWA will recognize Ben at the May 15th awards assembly at Rockford High School and at the MWA Classic June 18th at Hartland High School. The past recipients of this award were:

2003 Roger Kish, Lapeer West H. S. - 2X NCAA Division 1 All-American for Minnesota
2004 Paul Donahoe, Davison H. S. - NCAA Division 1 Champion for Nebraska
2005 Brent Metcalf, Davison H. S. - NCAA Division 1 Champion for Iowa
2006 Jon Reader, Davison H. S. - NCAA Division 1 All-American for Iowa State
2007 Justin Zeerip, Hesperia H. S.

2008
BEN BENNETT
ROCKFORD HIGH SCHOOL

2008 Conference, District, Regional and State Champion
Sr. National Champion, Tournament's Outstanding Wrestler Award.
North Eastern Regional Freestyle Champion.

4X OK Red Conference Champion, 4X District Champion,
4X Regional Champion,4X All State, 3X State Champion.
School Records for Most Career Pins (125),
Most Career Wins (213), Most Wins in Season (55 - Jr. yr.),
Most Pins in a Season (38).

MWA Position Statement

April, 2008

The current membership of the Michigan Wrestling Association has adopted a position of opposing the MHSAA policy prohibiting High School Athletes/ Coaches/ Officials in Michigan from participating in any tournament that is described as a High School National Championship.

Under the current policy, any Athlete who participates in such a tournament becomes ineligible for one year, an Official is not allowed to register/officiate for one year, and Coaches cannot coach nor attend any of the MHSAA State Tournament series.

Participation in a National Tournament from MHSAA perspective is not in the best educational interest of the student athlete. The same standard is applied to officials and coaches, treating them all as equal parts of the equation.

By denying Athletes participation at the National Level they are losing an opportunity to be seen by University coaches from across the country. Many University coaches attend the National Tournaments, looking to fill or strengthen particular weight classes. For some athletes it is a chance for scholarship money to continue their education. Not just the elite D1 schools, but D2 and D3 as well.

Michigan Athletes who wrestle can participate in other out of season tournaments, ie: Border Wars, AAU nationals, but not a High School National event. What makes some events acceptable and others not? The term: High School Nationals. It is another discrimination suit waiting to happen.

We would like the MHSAA Representative council to revisit this position. Perhaps it would be prudent to state opposition to the idea of such participation but let the individual athletes, coaches, and officials make their own choice whether to participate. The Tournaments in question occur after the MHSAA season is complete and have no bearing on the autonomy of the MHSAA State Tournament Series.

Marti Covert
President
Michigan Wrestling Association

Congratulations to all of our end of season award winners. For complete lists of all award winners including 53 individual academic all state recipients, 32 team academic all state recipients, and the coaches and assistant coaches of the year from each of the four divisions please check out our new awards section.

Congratulations to Holt, Greenville, Goodrich, and Hesperia on winning state titles.

The MWA Classic is June 18, 2008. This is an event to showcase graduating seniors and honor various people for their accomplishments and/or contributions to the sport of wrestling in Michigan. This event will be a dual meet between wrestlers from various high school division classifications and a time for the Michigan Wrestling Association to present its various awards that might not be seen on a state level.