Royal Oak Wrestlers’ Season Ends With Disappointment at Regionals

CANTON – Regionals did not go as the Royal Oak varsity wrestling team expected. 

The Royal Oak Ravens' three representatives in the Division One regional on Saturday at Plymouth didn’t qualify for the individual finals. Zeke Burns (28-24), Tyler McCullough (23-11) and Sean Kavanaugh (32-13) combined for a 2-6 record at the event and failed to move on.

“I thought all our kids were in a pretty good position to make it through,” Ravens coach Scott Welborn said. “I thought our 215-pounder (Kavanaugh) probably had the best shot. He didn’t wrestle as well as he’s capable of. We knew the 112 pounder (Burns) had a shot, a little bit of a long shot, but he went after it.”

In regionals, the top four wrestlers in each weight class qualify and the bracket is run under double elimination rules. 

Kavanaugh lost two straight matches and was eliminated. McCullough picked up a win by default against Jackson Solomon of Sterling Heights in between losses. 

Burns picked up the only other win of the day for Royal Oak in the elimination bracket, but it was after his opponent injured his arm during their match and continued continue wrestling.

Marc Wise from Detroit Jesuit was up in the match 7-2 over Burns with time ticking down in the second round. Wise had Burns on the mat close to the out of bounds line. Burns turned over on the hold and rolled up on Wise’s arm while pushing them both out.

As the referee blew the whistle,  the pressure on Wise’s arm caused it to snap.

“I know he (Burns) was worried right away,” Welborn said. “I told him you didn’t do anything that was wrong, you did a legal move. Guys get hurt sometimes with legal moves, I said to him injuries happen.”

Training staff quickly rushed over and EMS technicians had to be called. Wise’s arm was wrapped and he was taken off on a stretcher. Since the move was legal, Burns advanced to the next round and was one win away from qualifying for state.  

Burns faced Danny Martinez from Livonia-Franklin and could never gain an advantage. Burns spent nearly the entire second round face down on the mat and quickly found himself behind 8-0. Martinez used a strength advantage to finally pin Burns at the 4:17 mark.

Despite the disappointing finish at regionals, Welborn wasn’t disappointed with the team’s season. This was the first year the program has qualified to underclassman to the regional level.

“We definitely have a good base,” Welborn said. “We have one senior, but we have two returners that are young guys.”

Notes - McCullough's two losses came to Said Youssef of Plymouth by pinfall and Ian Stirton of Northville in an 8-2 decision. Youssef and Stirton finished in second and third place in the 125 pound weight class.  Kavanaugh lost to Antonio Echols of Southfield in the first round on a 9-6 decision and Kenny Coleman of Grosse Pointe North in the elimination bracket in a 5-1 decision.