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LAPEER CITY THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION Monday, December 16, 2002 By Keith Morris JOURNAL SPORTS WRITER
Roger Kish has officially taken his place among the great high school wrestlers in state history.
The Lapeer West senior this weekend became the fastest wrestler in state history to reach the 200-win milestone by going 4-0 at Saturday's Howell Invitational.
He's 13-0 this season and no wrestler had ever recorded his 200th win at such an early date in his senior season.
The three-time state champion who has already accepted a scholarship to wrestle at Minnesota, is the 22nd area wrestler to win 200 matches. If he can stay healthy, he should shatter the state record for career wins set last year by Whittemore-Prescott's Adam Cunningham, who finished 232-6. Goodrich's Nick Oertel holds the area record with 225 wins.
He is only the third Lapeer West wrestler to record this many wins and is 15 victories from matching the school-record 215 total set two years ago by his brother, James, now wrestling at North Carolina.
"It's going to be nice," he said of seeing his and his brother's name at the top of the school's victory list. "But with some of the kids we've got coming up who knows how long those records will stay."
He's on pace to leave the bar extremely high for anyone looking to unseat him once he overtakes Cunningham. Kish went 62-2 and won the 160-pound state title as a freshman. He was 63-0 in winning at 171 as a sophomore and was 62-0 in claiming the 189 crown a year ago.
He broke the area record for consecutive wins this season set by Goodrich's Andy Storrs. Storrs won his first 162 matches before losing. Kish has now won his last 171 matches, the third-most consecutive wins in state history.
Andy Simmons of Williamston holds the state record for consecutive wins, going 219-0 before graduating last spring. His brother, Nick, is second on the state list with 211 straight wins.
Kish was one of three Panthers to win titles at the Howell Invitational. Justin Chrzanowski and David Schlaud also finished first. Rusty Rhein and Jon Ranger placed third, Myron Vandecar fourth and Nick Hendricks fifth.
Clio finished fifth at the 12-team Caro Invitational. Caro won with 206.5 points, followed by Essexville-Garber with 155.5, Saginaw Heritage (116), Vassar (94.5) and the Mustangs (83.5). Perry (69) was sixth.
For Clio, Andy Welch went 3-0 to win the 275-pound championship. Luke Lanctot (103) and Tony Baird (189) both went 2-1 to take third. Steve Hughes (130) was also third, going 1-1. Finishing fourth were Ryan Slatton (125), Tony Slatton (145) and Ryan Aldred (152), all with 2-2 records. Powers Catholic went 4-1, losing on the third tie-breaker to Linden to finish second at the Linden tournament. The Chargers beat Lowell's B team 79-0, Warren Lincoln 52-25, Marine City 60-24 and Birch Run 52-26. The Linden match was a 34-34 tie but Linden had more pins (4-3) to win the crown. For the Chargers (7-0-1), Mike Hurta (119), Nick Glass (135), Joe Eichhorn (140) and Jason Kopec (171) were all 5-0.
Keith Morris can be reached by e-mail at kmorris@flintjournal.com
QUICK FACTS Area's 200-win club 1. Nick Oertel, Goodrich (1999-02) 225-20 2. Chase Metcalf, Good.-Dav. (1999-02) 223-9 3. Matt Brady, Kearsley (1988-91) 217-20-2 4. James Kish, Lapeer West (1998-01) 215-20 4. Randy Kovicak, New Lothrop (1989-92) 215-9 6. Harold Eastman, Mt. Morris (1995-99) 214-12 6. Ryan Tripp, Goodrich (1998-01) 214-11 6. Chad Roush, Davison (1999-02) 214-22 6. Jason Fellows, Lapeer West (1999-02) 214-24 10. Bart Bennett, Birch Run (1998-01) 212-19 11. Tony Hill, Kearsley (1987-90) 211-16 12. Michael Murdock, Montrose (1983-86) 209-9-1 13. Jake Clark, Montrose (1995-98) 208-28 14. Tony Holifield, Mt. Morris (1994-98) 206-7 15. Cliff Casteel, Montrose (1987-90) 204-22-1 16. Joe Whitman, Davison (1998-01) 202-23 17. Eddie Magrys, Montrose (1997-00) 201-27 17. Russell Perrin, Durand (1999-02) 201-30 19. x-Roger Kish, Lapeer West (2000-03) 200-2 19. Stan Marshall, LakeVille (1994-97) 200-15 19. Jamie Bartley, Goodrich (1994-97) 200-16 19. Mike Abbey, Bendle (1996-99) 200-18
(Adam Cunningham of Whittemore-Prescott holds state record for wins at 232-6.) Borrowed without permission from Mi-Live who borrowed it with permission from the Flint Journal
