Goetz notches 100th wrestling win

 Blissfield suffered a tough 35-34 loss against Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central in the first round. However, the team came back strong in the second round to defeat Marshall 56-11.

In the third round Blissfield faced Western. Blissfield needed the win to get in the positive. However, there was as much buzz about senior Dalton Goetz as anything else.

Goetz, who was then 2-0 for the day, was one victory away from 100 career wins, a milestone few wrestlers attain. He won the match handily. His opponent narrowly escaped an early pin as Blissfield fans sat on the edge of their seats, cheering him on. It did not take long for Goetz to cover his opponent for the second time. Spectators watched in anticipation as he struggled to press the Western wrestler’s back to the floor. The referee slapped the mat and the Blissfield crowd went wild.

Goetz had become the 17th wrestler in Blissfield High School’s history to achieve 100 career victories.

“It was great,” said Goetz. “I’ve been looking forward to that since I started wrestling.”

Blissfield eventually lost to Western, 45-30. Hastings proved a fierce competitor, racking up several first-round pins and defeating Blissfield 64-15.

In the fifth and final round, the Royals faced the Pinckney Pirates. Thanks to an early pin by Nic Edwards and some outstanding performances by Haupricht, Winkelman and Cavin Beckey, the Royals marooned the Pirates 51-21.

Dalton Goetz went 5-0 for the day. Haupricht and Winkelman went 4-1. Edwards, Beckey and Christian Davis were 3-2, and Jacob Bayer had a record of 2-1.

 

For the full story by James McClenathen, ADVANCE reporter, please see the Jan. 26, 2011, edition.