DETROIT — It got a little scary there for a moment or two.
Kevon Davenport was ahead by just a point in the third period of his 145-pound weight class individual state title match.
It had been relatively easy reaching the final late Saturday afternoon at Detroit’s Ford Field. The day before, he pinned his first two opponents and won 14-6 over the third.
He was up against a familiar foe, Bay City Western senior Vic Schoenherr, whom Davenport beat last year for the same title.
“He found himself in a fortunate position to catch me out of position and he threw that headlock, and I was just lucky to roll through on it,” Davenport explained afterward. “I felt once I had stopped that headlock, I knew if I stayed calm, stayed in good position, that whatever he tried home run-wise that I’d be ready for it physically.”
Davenport prevailed 7-3 and won his fourth state Division 1 individual title, only the 26th wrestler in state history to do so, the first Catholic League wrestler and the first in Detroit Catholic Central’s storied history.
He won the individual titles at three different weight classes: as a freshman in the 119 class, at 130 as a sophomore, and 145 as a junior.
“It’s something that is pretty much every eighth grader’s goal coming into high school,” he said.
He’s proud of another “first.”
“In my opinion, the sport of wrestling is not a super diverse sport,” he said. “Hopefully them seeing me be the first four-time African-American state champ, they can try and bring wrestling to the Detroit Public School system. I want to grow wrestling through my own community.”
Davenport had a 35-1 record this season and 181-10 for his prep career. He’ll be wrestling next year at Nebraska.
He was one of seven Shamrocks who won an individual title, tying a state record.
Cameron Amine won the 152 title, his third individual crown. He won as a freshman and sophomore, but lost a heartbreaker last year.
“It was the whole motivation coming into this year,” Amine said. “That drove me every day to get better.” He had a perfect 37-0 season.
Winning their second individual titles were junior Joshua Edmond at 135, junior Derek Gilcher at 140 beating his own teammate, Marc Shaeffer; and senior Easton Turner (189).
First-time winners were junior Brendin Yatooma (215) and senior Steven Kolcheff (285).
Catholic Central (26-1) finished the decade with seven team titles and one runner-up finish. It’s a feat no Division 1 team has ever accomplished.
Coach Mitch Hancock — coach of seven champs in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2019 — is tied with legendary Mike Rodriguez, whose squads won in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1978, 1983 and 1988.
