12 Rochester Wrestlers Head to State Finals Today at The Palace

Twelve wrestlers from Rochester are competing starting today in the MHSAA individual wrestling finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

has six wrestlers: Kaelan Richards (135), Dean Vettesse (140), Aaron Morgan (145), Justin Kim (103) and Shwan Shadaia (189) . Falcons senior Cody DeVoe, who lost in the regional championship match to Utica Eisenhower’s Charlie Myers in a 3-2 decision, is also competing (171).

is sending three wrestlers to the state finals. Justin Schofield (103), Alex Potoniec (125) and Jack Addy (145) all reached the finals of the consolation bracket where they lost.

Stoney Creek has three wrestlers in the finals, including senior Nick Gajdzik, who won the heavyweight division (285) at regionals.

“I was very excited for the regional finals,” Gajdzik said. “I focused on the work I needed to do and accomplished my goal.”

The fact he’s gone over 40 matches without a loss isn’t all that important to Gajdzik.

“I try not to think about my season, or what I did before, or what I’m going to do in the future,” Gajdzik said. “I focus on one match at a time, that’s the only thing that matters.”

Last year in the state finals,

Gajdzik moved up a weight class this year and they avoided each other in the regionals. Gajdzik’s teammate Serge Andreou wasn’t so lucky. Line pinned Andreou (1:47) in the regional finals.

Since the top four wrestlers in each weight class earn a spot in the state finals, Andreou’s second place finish will give him a spot in the state finals at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

As a team, qualified all three wrestlers it brought to regionals. Freshman Andrew Price finished in second place in the 145-pound weight class.

from The Palace, and will provide complete coverage in photos, video and stories. Action starts at 2:15 p.m. Thursday with Round 1.