Reeths-Puffer wrestlers Ian Cook and Nathan Stafford both earned All-State honors with top 10 finishes over the weekend at the Division 1 individual state finals at Detroit’s Ford Field.
Cook finished third in the state in the 132-pound division while Stafford finished sixth in the 285-pound division.
Cook, a junior and a strong contender for a state title, posted a 5-1 record over the course of the two-day tournament.
He started by beating Romeo’s Owen Perry 4-2 before falling to Hartford’s Dallas Karponic 5-1. Karponic went on to win the state title at 132 pounds.
R-P's Ian Cook, who finished third in the state at 132 pounds.
Cook rebounded by winning his final four matches, over Macomb Dakota’s Jake Gawlowski 7-6, Livonia Franklin’s Gino DiPinio 6-2, Clarkston’s Nathaniel Carter 10-6 and Rockford’s Laim Fitzpatrick 5-2 in the third-place match.
Cook has now earned All-State status in all three of his varsity seasons.
“Ian wrestled so well and smart as the tournament went on and looked great,” said R-P Coach Jared Fleming. “Ian played to his strengths and showed that he can ride anyone out from the top position and turn almost everyone in the state for a near fall. I am so proud of him for being a beast and battling through some adversity and still securing third place.”
Stafford, a senior, was the big surprise of the tournament, entering the competition ranked 15th in the state in his weight class, then finishing sixth and earning All-State status for the first time in his career.
Nathan Stafford, who finished sixth in the state at 285 pounds.
He started the weekend with a 1-0 loss to Davison’s Alexander Holmes, then went on to win his next three matches, over Stony Creek’s Roman Lambert (6-0), Macomb Dakota’s Brad Haver (2-1), and L’Anse Creuse’s Brandon Gordon (4-3).
Stafford went on to lose in the consolation semifinals and the fifth-place match, but still ended his varsity career on a very high note.;
“Nathan Stafford had the tournament of his life!” Coach Fleming said. “He was able to lock in mentally and wrestle the best we’ve seen him wrestle all year, which is incredible. He wowed himself, us coaches, and lots of people from the wrestling community with his grit and tenacity this weekend. This is his first time at the state tournament and first time placing.”
Sophomore Jake Rozycki, R-P’s third state qualifier, posted a 1-2 record at the tournament.
