The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Cooley sets sights on final
By Don Richter, Sports Editor
PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007
Dakota Cooley will be Chelsea's lone representative at this year's wrestling state final at The Palace of Auburn Hills today through Saturday.
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Cooley (36-2) will compete in the 112-pound weight class in Division II. The freshman grappler finished second at last week's regional meet in Adrian. The top four placers in each weight class advanced to the state final.
Cooley will open the state meet against St. Johns sophomore Jake Walters (41-6) in a first round match-up Thursday at 2:45 p.m.
To win a state championship, a grappler has to win four straight matches.
Top wrestlers in Cooley's weight class include Dexter junior Bret Marsh (49-2) and Petoskey senior Dustin Boyer (47-3). Both of Cooley's losses this season have come against Marsh, including a 7-0 defeat in the regional final.
The state meet features the best wrestlers in Divisions I, II, III and IV.
"Dakota is only the third freshman from Chelsea to make it to state," said Chelsea coach Kerry Kargel. "He broke two fingers earlier this year. He was out for three weeks. He seems to be on track right now."
Kargel said competing in the state meet is never easy, even for someone as talented as Cooley.
"Everybody up there is good," he said. "Just placing at state as a freshman would be a great honor."
Semifinals are 7 p.m. Friday.
The finals are 4:45 p.m. Saturday.
Prior to the finals, one of prep sports' most memorable events occurs as wrestlers from all divisions gather together in the Grand March. The march, set to music, circles the entire arena floor as fans stand and cheer.
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