DCC's Mooradian Shoots for One More
February 27, 2012
Championships have become a regular part of Alec Mooradian's high school wrestling career. In each of the last three seasons, he's emerged from the 16 best wrestlers at his weight in Division 1 to stand alone atop the awards podium as an MHSAA individual title winner.
This weekend, the Detroit Catholic Central senior can claim one more of those -- and finish a feat only 15 others have accomplished in the history of the sport in this state.
Mooradian and St. Johns' Taylor Massa -- who also has won three titles over the last three seasons -- can become the 16th and 17th wrestlers in MHSAA history to finish with four individual championships. Mooradian enters the weekend with a 44-2 record this season as he targets the 152-pound title; he's 40 pounds heavier than he was when he captured his first crown. His 206 career victories also rank among the MHSAA all-time career leaders and reflect years of dedication.
“I spend a ton of time doing extra things before or after practice," Mooradian said. "Whether it's working on technique, running, or spending time in the weight room I am always trying to do something extra; trying to outwork everyone."
Mooradian, a recipient of one of this week's Second Half High 5s, began his rise to prominence by capturing the 112-pound medal in 2009 with a 2-0 win over Holts’ Ben Matthiesen. That capped his freshman year with a 48-0 record.
He followed with a 59-1 campaign in 2010, finishing the year with a 119-pound title by downing Davison’s Brandon Shuart 3-1 in the Final. A year ago, Mooradian went undefeated at 55-0 and claimed his third individual MHSAA championship, this time at 135 with a win over Jake Weissend of Flint Carman-Ainsworth.
His latest wins came on two pins and a decision as the Shamrocks again won the Division 1 championship Saturday at Battle Creek's Kellogg Arena. He also played significant roles on the 2010 championship team and last season's MHSAA runner-up.
Technique and physical training make up a big portion of Mooradian's year-round training. But he also works hard to transfer his physical preparation to the mental aspects demanded by the one-on-one nature of wrestling.
“In my mind, matches are won before setting foot on the mat,” he said. “I have always strived to be a composed wrestler. This attribute allows me to stay in every match no matter what the score is, and it keeps me free of any nerves heading into a high pressure situation. Having a chance for a fourth state title is a great opportunity, and I look forward to it.”
Report was compiled by the MHSAA's Rob Kaminski.
Led by 1st-Year Coaches, Dundee Adds to Longtime Tradition with Another D3 Win
By
Jeff Chaney
Special for MHSAA.com
February 25, 2023
KALAMAZOO – Nate Hall and Garrett Stevens knew what they were taking over when they were announced as co-coaches of the Dundee wrestling team before this season.
Longtime coach Tim Roberts did not leave the cupboard bare when he decided to retire.
His Vikings program had won five straight MHSAA Division 3 team titles and was littered with talented and powerful wrestlers.
Hall and Stevens proved to be the right picks to take over the legendary program, as they helped coach the Vikings to their sixth-straight title, and 14th overall.
And Dundee did it in its usual impressive fashion, with a 60-18 win over Whitehall in the Final on Saturday at the Wings Event Center in Kalamazoo.
"The well was not dry, and don't wreck it," said Hall, whose team finished duals at 19-2. "We didn't change much. We have all been around the program long enough, we had a great idea of what was taking place and how we are successful."
Which is?
"The commitment of the families, that is 100 percent why this program is so successful," Hall said. "I am not chasing kids down to have them wrestle in the summer. I'm chasing them trying to keep up with them."
And that is exactly what the Vikings' three opponents were doing all weekend in Kalamazoo – chasing down Dundee's talent.
In the Final, the Vikings were down 12-0 after two pins by Whitehall. But after that, Dundee went on to win 11 matches in a row, seven straight by pin.
Freshman Haydn Nutt began with a pin in 3 minutes, 9 seconds. Nutt was one of six freshmen who took to the mat this weekend for the Vikings. And all six are ranked among the top 10 in their respective weight classes by Michigan Grappler, including Nutt, who is the state's top-ranked 106-pounder in Division 3.
"We started the year and we had 13 freshmen, and I can't say enough the way our program has developed those kids," Hall said. "They were ready from day one this year, and they stepped up and progressed properly. They were ready to go."
It helps when you have a senior class of state champions leading the way like Braeden Davis at 132 pounds, Kaden Chinavare at 138 and Aiden Davis at 157.
"Dundee is the best place to be when you want to pursue wrestling," said Braeden Davis, who will look to win a fourth-straight individual title next weekend at Ford Field and couple that with his now four team titles. "We have a great staff, a great community. It's all about wrestling at Dundee."
Braeden Davis went 3-0 for the weekend and helped Dundee defeat Hart in the Quarterfinals 64-15 and Constantine in the Semifinals 59-16.
Braeden Davis was most impressive in the Final, when he won by fall in 15 seconds.
Whitehall co-coach Justin Zeerip knows good wrestling when he sees it. A four-time Individual Finals champion himself, Zeerip was impressed with the Vikings.
"Dundee is so tough, " said Zeerip, whose team ended with a 32-4 record. "From 106 to 175, they have seven top-ranked guys. And a couple other guys are ranked really high, so hats off to them, they are a great program. Our kids wrestled hard, they are just a super team."
Whitehall did wrestle hard during the two-day event as well, downing Gladstone in the Quarterfinals 48-24 on Friday, and then Algonac in the Semifinals 40-27 earlier Saturday. Whitehall wrestled over its seed in that match, as the No. 3-seeded Vikings got past the second seed.
"I was proud how my guys wrestled this weekend," Zeerip said.
PHOTOS (Top) Dundee’s Kaden Chinavare, right, goes for a takedown during his 126-pound match with Whitehall’s Caden Varela. (Middle) Whitehall’s Jackson Cook wrestles to a 7-3 decision win at 190 in the Semifinal against Algonac. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)