For the second consecutive season, the Triton College wrestling team are Great Lakes District champions. The Trojans ended atop the ten-team field Feb. 17 at Mott Community College in Flint, Mich.
Triton tallied 183 points, besting Southwestern Michigan College (175) and Region 4 rival, Harper College (147.5).
In addition to the team title, the Trojans qualified all ten of their wrestlers competing into the NJCAA Wrestling Championships held March 1 and 2 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Head Coach
Tim Duggan was named Great Lakes District Coach of the Year.
It's hard to repeat to win any championship," Duggan said. "It was a complete team effort and our guys knew what they had to do."
Eight of the 10 Triton wrestlers finished in the top three at the Great Lakes District, including four champions,
Anthony Schickel at 125,
Anthony Bitner at 149
Connor Svantner at 157 and
Ghee Rachal at 197.
Both Schickel and Svantner are repeat district champs at their weight classes.
"Connor and Anthony are the two returning All-Americans and they're the leaders on our team," Duggan said. "They may not be the most vocal guys, but they each lead by example."
Schickel received a double bye into the semifinals and defeated Jordan Simpson of Southwestern Michigan by technical fall (15-0) to claim the title. Svantner went 3-0 on the day as he took care of Emmanuel Oliver of Morton College by major decision (10-1) in the final.
Bitner won his title bout in a 7-0 decision over Caeleb Ismael from Southwestern Michigan. Rachal, the Most Outstanding Wrestler earlier this season at the Art Kraft Memorial dominated Connor Lorden of Harper in the title bout by technical fall (19-3).
Second place finishers were
Andre Giurini at 133 and
Andrew Mulay at 165.
Ashton Hayhurst (141) and
Tylahn Ladd (285) both placed third.
Also qualifying for nationals with fourth place showings were
Cameron White at 174 and
Bennett Eichert at 184.
White's fourth place finish gave the Trojans critical points in a tight team race with Southwestern Michigan. The sophomore was inserted into the lineup for
Mustafa Salimi, who suffered a season ending injury in practice leading up to the district tournament.
"Cam stepped up big time to fill the spot at 174 and got us some much needed team points," said Duggan.
With another district crown in hand, Duggan and the Trojans look to take another step up the first weekend in March at nationals.
"Last year we had three All-Americans and I believe all ten of our guys have the potential to be one this year," Duggan said. "We wrestled really hard (at the district tournament) and have put ourselves in a good position to get seeded well at the national tournament."
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