KYLE ABDELLATIF Advance to State Semifinals

Chelsea, Ypsilanti, Manchester wrestlers advance to individual state semifinals

AUBURN HILLS — The last time Chelsea High School wrestler Michael Hovater was in the state quarterfinals, he had the unenviable task of facing an undefeated, four-time state champion.

Taylor Massa is now a starter for the University of Michigan wrestling team , but a year ago — as he did to every opponent he faced last season — he made quick work of Hovater, pinning him in the first period.

On Friday, Hovater finally got the opportunity to redeem himself, and this time it was Hovater with the unblemished record, and Hovater who did the pinning.Hovater scored a second period pin over Gaylord’s Tristan Gregory to advance to the semifinal round of the Division 2 MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals at the Palace of Auburn Hills. He will vie for a spot in the finals of the 189 pound weight class on Friday night.

“It feels great. A lot better than last year,” Hovater said with a smile in reference to the match with Massa.

Both of Hovater’s wins so far in the tournament — the first coming on Thursday — have come by way of pin. He said he hopes to continue that trend Friday night and beyond.

“That’s the goal…I mean I’m not going to not pin him if I can pin him,” joked Hovater.

Chelsea’s Steve Bleise, left, puts Holly’s Mason Cleaver, right, into a headlock during a wrestling state individual quarterfinal at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday March 1, 2013

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

Hovater will be joined by teammate Steve Bleise (135) and Ypsilanti’s Kyle Abdellatif (125) in the Division 2 semifinals, while Manchester’s Eric Coval will compete in the Division 3 semifinals at 145 pounds.

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Like Hovater, Bleise improved on his undefeated record with a 6-3 win over Mason Cleaver of Holly in the quarterfinals. Chelsea coach Kerry Kargel and current Central Michigan wrestler Dakota Cooley are the only two Chelsea wrestlers to ever have undefeated, state championship seasons in program history and they did it 41 years apart.

Hovater and Bleise hope to double that total this weekend.

“Both of them have been here last year so it’s not anything uncommon for them,” Kargel said. All semifinalists are guaranteed all-state medals — awarded to the top eight — as the the worst they could possibly finish in their 16-person weight classes is sixth place.

“I think they’re more relaxed now. I think they were more tense coming into (the quarterfinals), because the goal is always to get ’em into the top eight and work their way up,” Kargel said. “There shouldn’t be as much tension now and I think they’ll wrestle better. More relaxed.“

Ypsilanti’s Kyle Abdelatiff, right, flips Middlevile-Thornapple Kellog, ‘s Ryan Flynn, left, during a wrestling state individual quarterfinal at The Palace of Auburn Hills on Friday March 1, 2013.

Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com

Abdellatif secured his spot in the semifinals with a 9-6 win over Ryan Flynn of Middleville Thorneapple Kellogg. Abdellatif staved off a late third-period comeback by Flynn, who trailed by five at one point, but was within one with under a minute to go.

“He wrestled great. He wrestled tough,” Ypsilanti coach Claudell Ruffin said. “If he keeps his composure hopefully he can get to the finals.”

Coval hung on for a one-point win in the most dramatic of the quarterfinal matches. Manchester coach Steve Vlcek is happy to see Coval wrestling to his ability.

“He is starting to believe finally he belongs here,” Vlcek said. “He’s always had the talent, now he’s starting to believe which is nice to see.”

Friday’s semifinal round begins at 7 p.m. with wrestling beginning at the heavyweight division. All matches will be live-streamed at MHSAA.tv.

Peter Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.

ABDELLATIF BROTHERS

Ypsilanti brothers Kyle and Zaid Abdellatif eye wrestling state titles 125 pounds apart

By PETE CUNNINGHAM Sports Director

 

Posted on Thu, Feb 28, 2013 : 5:59 a.m.

There’s a vague resemblance between Kyle and Zaid Abdellatif, but without knowing their common last name, it’d be difficult to guess that they’re brothers.Once finding out the Ypsilanti High School wrestlers are in fact siblings, it’s their vast differences that stick out. Well, actually, more like their one big difference.

A 125-pound difference to be exact.

Older brother Zaid, a senior, wrestles in the heavyweight division. The maximum for the weight class is 285 pounds, but Zaid weighs in at a svelte 250. Kyle, a junior, wrestles in the 125 lbs. weight class, making him exactly half the size of his older brother.

Despite their size difference, Ypsilanti coach Claudell Ruffin said the two have similar styles.

Ypsilanti senior Zaid Abdellatif, on top, above, will wrestle in the heavyweight division at the Division 2 MHSAA Individual Wrestling Finals Thursday-Friday.Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo

“Zaid is quick for a heavyweight, Kyle quick for a lightweight, so I’d say they’re comparable in style,” Ruffin said. “They’re both quick.”

The Abdellatif brothers are two of the 19 wrestlers from Washtenaw County who will compete at the MHSAA Individual Wrestling state championships Thursday-Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

For Kyle, it will be his second trip to the Division 2 championships, and for Zaid his first.

“It’s going to be a great experience,” Kyle said.

“We’ve both been working hard since sixth grade for this,” Zaid said.

For as long as they’ve been wrestling, their size difference has made it impossible for them to be practice partners. Zaid said he weighed 150 lbs. in third grade, putting his elementary school self still five weight classes above his eleventh-grade brother.

But even though they can’t be practice partners, the two say they still help each other out.

Ypsilanti junior Kyle Abdellatif, left, is making his second trip to the state championships.Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo

“Always before a match we start shaking hands, clapping, getting ready, motivating each other,” Zaid said. “I’ll motivate him mentally (as opposed to) physically.”

The brothers still do drills together before and after practice and at home. They said it’s probably a blessing in disguise that they can’t actually wrestle together. Without being opponents of each other daily, the two have a healthy separation on the mat.

“There’d be a lot of competition,” Zaid said. “There’s a lot of competition now, like who has the best record, best ranked, stuff like that. We’re always competitive, so it’s probably a good thing we’re not always going against each other.”

They are each other’s biggest supporters during matches. Kyle qualified for his second state championship by winning his first two matches at regionals. Zaid’s high school career came down to the so-called “blood round” at regionals, where the winner advances to states and the loser hands in his singlet.

Zaid pulled out a 5-4 decision in triple overtime, with his father crying in the stands and his little brother cheering in his corner.

“I wanted to see him go with me this year, so it was like I was wrestling with him,” Kyle said. “It’s going to be a great experience, going to states with him.”

“That was huge for both of them to obtain their goals, and to make it to the state meet together. That’s special,” Ruffin said. “I’m proud of both of the guys, it’s a huge feeling, to be a part of this.”

Both brothers have their eyes on placing in the top eight of their respective 16-man classes. They want to earn All-State distinction, but also want bragging rights.

“We’re not satisfied that we’re going,” Kyle said.

“We’ve got work to do there,” Zaid interjected.

They’ll be working together.

2013 MHSAA Individual Wrestling state championships Washtenaw County qualifiers

Washtenaw County has 19 wrestlers competing at this weekend’s state finals, including a pair of undefeated Chelsea wrestlers Michael Hovater, and Steven Bleise, who placed fourth and fifth respectively last season and have legitimate shots at state titles.

Lincoln’s Jordan Markey, who took fifth last season, is the only other returning state placer while Dexter’s Zeke Breuninger, Saline’s Nate O’Sullivan, Ypsilanti’s Kyle Abdellatif and Manchester’s Eric Covall are making returning trips to the finals looking to collect a medal this time around.

Check out every wrestler’s bracket and keep up with the action by following the MLive.com links below. Every matche from all three days can be seen live at MHSAA.tv.

Video of Ypsilanti Wrestler Anthony Simmons

Anthony Simmons

 

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READY FOR NEXT CHALLENGE

Player Profile: Ypsilanti’s Simmons ready for next challenge

Published: Monday, February 20, 2012

By Terry Jacoby
Heritage Media

Photo by Terry Jacoby

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Anthony Simmons walked around the bleachers and started to put on his Ypsilanti t-shirt when one of his teammates came around the corner. The two Phoenix wrestlers delivered an enthusiastic chest bump to celebrate Simmons’ win in the finals.Even though the senior wrestler had already stamped his ticket for Saturday’s regional at Mason High School, he was pumped and bumped about taking first place at the Division 2 District 14 meet at Dexter High School.

The 135-pounder went into Mason with one of the top seeds and plenty of well-earned confidence. That confidence carried him to the state finals after Simmons took third place at regionals.

“(Districts) went as planned,” said Simmons, a smart, well-spoken young man with goals, dreams and most importantly a road map. “The goal for any wrestler is The Palace (home of the state finals). We have a small senior class this year and our goal is states.”

Simmons took the first step to The Palace on Saturday. But before he heads up I-75 he has to travel down I-94 and head north to Mason. One doesn’t have to remind Simmons about how challenging regionals can be – and how if you’re not careful, it can be over just like that.

“It was close. I think I lost by four points,” said Simmons in reference to his loss in the blood round at last year’s regional tournament, one victory short of earning a place at the state meet. “At first it didn’t hit me that it was over. Then, like 5 of 10 minutes later I realized it was my last match of the season.”

He hasn’t forgotten about, either.

“This summer I worked really hard,” he said.

That’s how champions and winners deal with adversity. As the saying goes, they get back on the horse – or in this case, the mat. Back into the weight room and back listening to smart coaches and working harder than the year before.

“That loss was definitely motivation,” he says without hesitation. “The pain and the losing, I don’t like that.”

Simmons says he didn’t do anything wrong to lose that match last season. “He was just better than me that day,” he says. “I didn’t take it as a loss, just as a way to get better. So I got better and hopefully we see each other again this year.”

See what I mean by well-spoken.

Few have been better than Simmons this year. The son of Michelle Simmons and Michael Batts, improved to 39-5 on the season with his 8-7 decision over Mason’s James Starzec in the district final. It was a back and forth match in which the two competitors were tied at 6-6 late in the final period.

But Simmons dug down and found the strength to pull it out and take home the district title.

Now, all his focus is on getting past regionals. He’s made it back to the place where it all ended last year. He’s stronger now. Smarter. More experienced. And certainly more determined.

“I’m going to take it one match at a time,” he says. “If you start to think about the future, that’s when you make mistakes. So I’ll take it one match at a time.”

Simmons is known has a wrestler who has length. He’s a very tough defensive wrestler who doesn’t really have a weakness.

“He’s a tough kid and he can score from any position,” said Ypsilanti coach Claude Ruffin. “He has a lot of heart and a lot of pride. And he never, ever gives up.”

THE ROAD TO THE PALACE

112 KYLE ABDELLATIF 2ND PLACE

135 ANTHONY SIMMONS 1ST PLACE

• Over the weekend was the start of  a  grueling wrestling post season. All year the guys have been working hard and waiting for the opportunity to become a State Champion and make it to the next level. It all started Feburay 11, 2012 the District Championships. The guys had to qualify in the top 4 in Districts to continue there dreams of being a State Champion. Ypsilanti Grapplers made a statement at the District Championships this weekend it was held at Dexter High School. After the smoke cleared there were 5 Ypsilanti Grapplers standing and qualifying for the Regional Championships held at Mason High School. Ypsilanti High School had  four out of the five wrestlers to make it to the finals of the Individual District  Championships. This is a great accomplishment for the Ypsilanti Wrestling Team. This is the  first time we’ve  had this many people make it to the District finals. 112 Kyle Abdellatif dropped a close match in the finals to #8 Ranked Logan Crandall in the finals 6-5 now that pushes his overall record to 40-8.  135 Anthony Simmons showed great drive and determination to pull off his first District title. It came down to 21 seconds in the match and he was down by 1 point. Anthony  scored a takedown with 5 seconds left to win the District Championship match 8-7 against Starzec from mason. The win pushes his Overall record to 38-5.  145 James Andrews currently ranked (6) in the state suffered a tough lost in the finals against Fowlerville Rank #5 wrestler in the finals that lost pushes his overall record to 39-4.  215 Adam Smith upsests # 2 and #3 to make it to the finals. He suffered a lost to state runner up from Fowlerville  in the finals that lost pushes his overall record to 9-6. 285 Zaid Abdellatif placed 4th place in the District Championships falling to #4 Ranked Shawn Chamberlian Dexter for 3rd place now that pushes his overall record to 34-11. Ypsilanti Wrestling Team will be traveling to Mason High School February 18, 2012 for the Regional Championships. Good Luck Ypsi Grapplers…
• 

  145 JAMES ANDREWS 2ND PLACE

      

  285 ZAID ABDELLATIF 4TH PLACE

YPSILANTI WRESTLING BEATTY-LAMBROS INVITATIONAL

YPSILANTI WRESTLING

38TH BEATTY-LAMBROS INVITATIONAL

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YPSILANTI GRAPPLERS  KICKED OFF THERE SEASON THIS WEEKEND WITH A 4TH PLACE TEAM FINISH AND 9 TOTAL PLACERS . YPSILANTI HAD 4 WRESTLERS MAKE IT  TO THE FINALS. 3 WRESTLERS FOR 3RD AND 4TH. 2 WRESTLERS FOR 5TH AND 6TH. 112LB KYLE ABDELLATIF STARTED THE PHOENIX OFF BY PINNING IN THE SEMI-FINALS TO MAKE IT TO THE FINALS. KYLE ABDELLATIF WRESTLED #6 BEN DOLL IN THE FINALS. THE  MATCH WENT DOWN TO THE WIRE KYLE  MANAGED TO BREAK THRU DOLLS DEFENSE TO GET IN ON A SHOT WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT BUT TIME RAN OUT THE FINAL SCORE 2-1. 130 SOPHMORE NICK MCGAUGHY PINNED TO MAKE IT TO THE FINALS BUT SUFFERED A TOUGH LOSE IN THE FINALS TO FINISH 2ND. 145LB FRESHMAN ROBERT PETERSON WRESTLES TOUGH AND MAKES IT TO THE FINALS. HE ALSO TOOK A TOUGH LOSE IN THE FINALS TO FINISH 2ND. LAST BUT NOT LEAST ZAID ABDELLATIF FROM YPSILANTI WRESTLED # 7 RANKED MARTEZ CRUTCHFIELD FROM HIGHLAND PARK IN THE FINALS. ZAID SUFFERED A TOUGH LOSE 4-1.

TEAM STANDINGS

1 CHELSEA 238.50

2.REDFORD UNION 145

3.HIGHLAND PARK 139

4.YPSILANTI 119

5.NEW BOSTON HURON 109

6. FLINT NORTHERN 93.00

7.WOODHAVEN 93.50

8.SOUTH LYON EAST 71.00

9.WILLOW RUN 27

INDIVIDUAL PLACING

112 KYLE ABDELLATIF 2ND PLACE

112 SEAN TIMBS 4TH PLACE

119 ETHAN CLEMENTS 3RD PLACE

125 ANTIONE CURRIE 4TH PLACE

130 NICK MCGAUGHY 2ND

145 ROBERT PETERSON 2ND

160 JEREMIAH MOORE 5TH

171 JACOB MOORER 5TH

HWT ZAID ABDELLATIF 2ND

130

YPSILANTI WRESTLING ORDER FORM

GET YOUR GEAR NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

ANY Questions please email or call 810-610-7035

claudellruffin@yahoo.com

Coach Ruffin

Ypsilanti Wrestling Team

The Time is now if interested in Wrestling this year please sign up in the Athletic Office ASAP..
Schedule for the upcoming Season…LETS GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

Starts the week of 10/24/11.

Conditioning

Mon. & Wed 2:45pm-4:00pm

2x Olyimpic Alternate John Fisher Wrestling Camp

Tues. & Thur. 6:30pm-8:00pm

YPSI WRESTLERS GRAPPLE TO ALL AMERICAN STATUS

Zaid Abdellatif National Champ, Kyle Abdellatif Runner Up, Sammy Abdellatif 2nd place, Muhdy Abdellatif 5th place

Over the summer many Ypsi wrestlers took there wrestling to the next level by  competing in varies tournaments over the summer. One big challenge for the guys this summer was to compete in an national tournament. The United States Boys National Tournament was filled with exciting wrestling all day. The prestigious national tournament took place at the Bowen Field House on University Eastern Michigan campus and it was a success. Many teams around the nation came out to compete: Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Hawaii, Illinois, Michigan, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Alaska and more. Ypsilanti wrestlers performed well in this prestigious folkstyle wrestling tournament. The guys accumulated tons of experience and mat time at this tournament. Ypsi Boys finished with 2 national champions. Zaid Abdellatif stormed through the Hwt division bracket and musterd up 5 pins to get to the National Finals. In the finals he dominated his opponent from Chicago with an outstanding score 11-2 to become the United States Boys National Champion. The Abdellatif Brothers was defintely making some noise. Kyle Abdellatif wrestled in the 112 division and made it to the National Finals but fell to Ohio High School State champ in the finals by a score of  5-2. Sammy Abdellatif 2nd place and Muhdy Abdellatif 5th place also earned All-American Status. James Andrews wrestled in the 148 division. 148 weight class was one of the most competive weight classes in the tournament. James Storm through his bracket beating challengers from all around the nation to make it into the Finals. James semifinal match he had to come from behind to win a tough match 12-7. His toughest battle was the state placer from Indiana. James won in the finals 8-4 to become Ypsi second United States Boys National Champion.Tamarious Faulkner wrestled in the 119 division. Tamarious had some tough matches to get into the semifinals. He won several matches by 2-3 points to get there. He wrestled defending State Champ from Alaska in the semi-finals. He lost in overtime very exciting match. Tamarious battled back to place 3rd and become Ypsi’s six All-American on the day.

YPSI RUNNER UP @ CARLSON INVITE

CARLSON INVITE YPSI RUNNER UP

Carlson Marauder Tourney 1/15/11

The Ypsilanti Wrestling Team wrestled with Will power and heart today. They didn’t take no for an answer. There were several matches that were decided in the last 30 seconds. “We as coaches always instill  the never ever give up attitude everyday. The Ypsilanti Wrestling Team displayed that today. The Phoenix managed to get 4 in the Finals. The Phoenix Split a pair with 2 Champs and 3 Runner Up. We also had several high placers. After a great Tournament the Phoenix were the Runner up behind Trenton Trojans. ” I was proud of the guys for putting it all on the line great job guys. said Coach Ruffin.”             

                                                             1st Micah Cameron 189

1st Trey Sweeney   215

2nd Zaid Abdellatif  Hwt

2nd Anthony Simmons 135

2nd Kyle Abdellatif 112

3rd James Andrews 145

3rd Devonte Asher-Brown 171

4th Tamarious Faulkner 119

4th Marquise Brown 140 

6th Nick Mcgaughy 130