Stanley takes home 160-pound league crown

NOVI, Mich. — Despite wrestling a little shorthanded Friday night at the Catholic League wrestling championships, De La Salle Collegiate made the most of its opportunities while finishing fourth out of 10 teams at Detroit Catholic Central.

Seven of eight wrestlers medaled (top four) for De La Salle, which was missing a few key wrestlers due to injury or illness. The host Shamrocks won 10 of the 14 flight championships, finishing with a meet-best 272 points. Brother Rice was runner-up with 147 points, followed by U-D Jesuit (132.5), De La Salle (93.5) and Bishop Foley (84) among the top five. 

Junior Brett Stanley captured the 160-pound championship for the Pilots, winning both of his matches in impressive fashion. He pinned Lutheran North's Chase Marcath in the semifinal before picking up a 20-2 technical fall over Brother Rice's Ohannes Sarkisian in the championship match. With the win, Stanley improved to 32-1 on the season.

Freshman Peyton Smithling advanced to the 140-pound final before falling to Catholic Central's Camden Trupp. Smithling defeated Brother Rice's Julian Abro, 7-6, in an exciting semifinal match. 

Senior Michael Kafoury, sophomore Dominic Ragona and freshmen Nathan O'Donnell and Vincent Lertola all finished third for De La Salle. Junior Joseph Gerdes (130) placed fourth to earn a medal.

Kafoury finished 2-1 on the day, defeating U-D Jesuit's Noah Muscat, 3-1, in the 189-pound consolation final. Ragona was 3-1 at 152 pounds. He defeated Brother Rice's Lucas Campbell, 8-3, in the consolation final. O'Donnell (112) was also 3-1 in his weight class. He beat Bishop Foley's Max Mader in the consolation final, 3-0. Lertola went 3-1 on the day, defeating St. Mary's Cote Magryta, 8-1, in the consolation final. He also picked up wins over Bishop Foley and Lutheran North. Gerdes finished 2-2, falling to Brother Rice's Brennan Parent by fall in the consolation final. He defeated Divine Child and Royal Oak Shrine in the back draw.

Divine Child (51 points), St. Mary's (50), Lutheran North (21), Detroit Cristo Rey (4) and Royal Oak Shrine (4) rounded out the field. 

De La Salle will be back in action Wednesday at the Division 1 team districts at Roseville High School. The Pilots will take on the hosts at 5 p.m. The winner will take on the winner of the other semifinal match between Warren Cousino and Sterling Heights.

Stanley takes home 160-pound league crown
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