Considered the Toughest Tournament in Michigan, the Catholic Central Invitational (CCI) did not disappoint this year with high-level talent and depth. The tournament featured the host Shamrocks and several other Michigan powers including Dundee, Hudson, Hartland, Davison, and Clarkston.
The Shamrocks captured the team title scoring 225.5 team points with Dundee placing second with 165 points and Hartland third with 131 team points. "The guys as a whole wrestled hard today and showed some grit in challenging situations," said Head Coach Mitch Hancock. "It's no easy task to win this tournament with so many formidable opponents, the weight classes were loaded."
The Shamrocks sent eight wrestlers to the finals, four of them walked away as Champions. Darius Marines won the title at 157lbs majoring Hartland's #2 Vinney Abbey, earning him Most Outstanding Wrestler Award. Returning state champ Wyatt Lees won a loaded bracket at 113lbs knocking off Ovid Elsie's 2x state champ Talon Parsons. Freshmen Ryan Totten and Grayson Fuchs took home titles at 106lbs and 126lbs respectively. Totten won a thriller in sudden victory over Hartlands Braydon Tougas while Fuchs, entered as the sixth seed, knocked off returning D3 state champ Kade Kluce of Dundee. Finishing runner-up was Mason Stewart at 150lbs, Lee Krueger at 190lbs, Connor Bercume at 215lbs, and heavyweight Ben Eziuka.
Also placing in the tournament for the Shamrocks were:
The Shamrocks return to action this weekend for Alumni Day on Saturday, January 13th as they host the DCC Super Duals at Catholic Central. The event will feature Nationally #3 ranked St. Ed's along with Medina Highland of Ohio, Hartland, Lowell, and Dundee. Action is slated to get underway at 9:30 am.
