The Hornet News

The boys in green took home all possible honors from this weekend's State Final Wrestling Meet at Joe Louis arena. Williamston crowned 3 state champions and one runner-up. Nick Simmons won his 3rd individual state championship at 119 pounds moving his career record to 159 - 0! P.J. Mitchell won the title at 125 pounds, his first. Andy Simmons won his second consecutive title at 130 lbs and now stands at 109 - 0. Andy defeated teammate Casey Hulliberger in the finals moving Casey into the runner-up slot. They couldn't have done any better. Congratulations wrestlers and coaches, especially Jim Mooney, what a great way to retire.

Williamston advanced four wrestlers to the Individual State Tournament today. Making the trip to the Joe are Nick Simmons, P.J. Mitchell, and Andy Simmons who all finished as regional champions. Casey Hulliberger is also making the trip. He finished third after defaulting to teammate Andy Simmons in the semi-final match. Steve Dufrin, Bill Dufrin, and John Wheeker all advanced to the Consolation semi-finals but fell just short in their bid to advance. The Hornets next take to the mat Thursday, March 9th at Joe Louis Arena.

The Hornets lost their semi-final match in tonights regional to the Eagles of Brooklyn Columbia Central. BCC wrestled tough and stayed off their backs to beat the Hornets 38 - 22 in Coach Mooney's last dual. BCC went on to defeat Ida, who downed Hillsdale 57 - 12 in their semi-final. The finals match was decided 45 - 28. A big crowd was on hand to honor Coach Mooney on his retirement including many of his wrestlers and state champs. The Hornets aren't finished yet, seven grapplers travel to Comstock Park on Saturday for individual Regionals.

The Hornets advanced seven wrestlers to the Individual Regional next week at Comstock Park. Nick Simmons, P.J. Mitchell, and Andy Simmons finished in the top slot with Steve Dufrin placing second. Casey Hulliberger, and Bill Dufrin finished third , and John Wheeker finished fourth. Complete results are available here. The Hornets are next in action Wednesday in the team regional at home. Williamston faces Brooklyn Columbia Central in the first match, with the winner to face the winner of the Ida, Hillsdale semi-final.

The Hornets of Williamston downed Stockbridge and Jackson Lumen Christi to earn the District Championship tonight at Williamston High School. Williamston stopped the Panthers 64-12 and defeated the Titans 39-29. Complete results are available here. The Championship earned the Hornets a berth in the Team Regional Championship at Williamston High School next Wednesday, February 23. Williamston is next in competition when the Individual State Tournament begins Saturday, February 19 at home with District competition.

Williamston crowned 4 league champions and placed 13 of 14 wrestlers in the top 4 enroute to winning the ICL league tournament today at Fowlerville High School. After a perfect league dual meet season the win gives the Hornets the team trophy for 2000. Nick Simmons, P.J. Mitchell, Casey Hulliberger, Andy Simmons all brought home gold, while Steve Dufrin, Bill Dufrin and John Wheeker finished in the runner-up slot. Complete results and team scores are available here. The Hornets are next in action at home Wednesday night at 6:00 for the MHSAA team district championship. In the first match the Hornets will square off against Stockbridge with winner to face Jackson Lumen Christi.

Williamston won 10 of 14 in this league win against Fowlerville tonight. Seven Hornets won by pin along with a technical fall and two forfeits. This win closes out a perfect league season for the Hornets and puts them in the drivers seat going into the league tournament Saturday at Fowlerville. Complete results are available here.

Williamston won the first eight matches enroute to a 48-21 victory over Portland in a battle of ICL powers tonight. The victory puts the Hornets at 15-2 on the season and atop the ICL. Complete results are available here. Williamston is off this weekend and return to action next Thursday at Fowlerville.

Williamston edged out Dundee for the team title today at the Quincy Invitational. The Hornets placed 9 of 14 wrestlers in the top 4 including 4 champions, Nick Simmons, Andy Simmons, P.J. Mitchell, and Casey Hulliberger (in his first championship performance). Steve Dufrin and John Wheeker finished in the second slot, with Kevin Sharp and Bill Dufrin in third, and Jacob Miller in fourth. P.J. Mitchell was named the outstanding wrestler in the lower weights and received the award for the most pins in the least amount of time. Williamston results are available here. The Hornets return to action Thursday in their last regular home dual of the season against the Raiders of Portland. Please join us for Parents Night.

Williamston won 11 of 14 matches on the way to a 56-18 rout of the Vikings of Haslett. The Hornets recorded 8 pins and 3 decisions in the ICL victory. The win moves the defending state champs to 14-2 on the season. Complete results are available here. The Hornets are next in action Saturday at the Quincy Invitational.

The Hornets and the Bulldogs fought to the finish for the first Williamston Classic Championship of the new millennium. In the end the defending Classic Champion Williamston Hornets captured their second title at home. These back-to-back wins are the only two times the Green have won their own invitational in its 37 year history. Tonight's win was extra special, since Head Coach Jim Mooney is retiring at the seasons end. Nick Simmons and Andy Simmons took home the gold, while P.J. Mitchell, Bill Dufrin, and John Wheeker finished in the runner-up slots. Also placing for the Hornets were Casey Hulliberger in third, Kevin Sharp in fourth and Mike Rice in sixth. Complete results are available here.

The boys in green destroyed two short-handed squads from DeWitt and Dansville last night. Williamston defeated DeWitt 70 - 7 in the first match dropping just two decisions to the Panthers. In the second match the Hornets recorded all in pins when they blanked Dansville 84 - 0. Then in the final match of the evening the Panthers downed the Aggies 84 - 48. Complete results are available here. Saturday is the big day. Join us for the 37th annual Williamston Classic, wrestling begins at 9:30am.

Williamston wrestled to a first place tie with Mason at the Grand Ledge round-robin invitational today. The Hornets had four individual champions; Nick Simmons, P.J. Mitchell, Andy Simmons and in his first tournament championship John Wheeker. Casey Hulliberger and Kevin Sharp finished in the runner-up spots and Steve Dufrin and Jacob Miller finished third. Other placers for Williamston included Bill Dufrin in fourth and Kevin Bisard in fifth. Nick Simmons was named outstanding wrestler in the lower weights pinning Phil Mahar of Greenville, last years division 2 state third place winner, in the finals. This puts Nick at 133-0 with 130 falls, WOW!!! Hornet place winners and team scores are available here. The Hornets return to action Thursday against ICL foe Dewitt at home and again on Saturday in the 37th annual Williamston Classic.

The Hornets finished second to a a strong squad from Caro at the New Lothrop Invitational. Williamston had five grapplers in the top four led by champions Nick Simmons, Andy Simmons, and P.J. Mitchell. Casey Hulliberger made another fine showing with a second place finish and Bill Dufrin placed fourth. Andy Simmons was named the outstanding wrestler for the lower weights after defeating Phil Niklowicz of Caro, 7-6, in what was surely the match of the night. Hornet place winners and team scores are available here. Next Williamston squares off at the Grand Ledge Invitational on Saturday, January 15th.

Williamston finished fourth today at the Goodrich Tournament of Champions. The Simmons brothers both won their second straight titles at Goodrich at 112 and 119. P.J. Mitchell and Casey Hulliberger also turned in strong performances finishing in the second spot at 125 and 130. Four other Hornets were place winners. Williamston placers and team scores are available here. The Hornets are next in action next Saturday, January 8th at New Lothrop.

The Hornets defeated the Panthers of Stockbridge 59-19 at home tonight. After giving up a forfeit at 103, Williamston won the next 7 matches, and then added victories at 171, 189, and 215 enroute to a solid win against a strong squad from Stockbridge. Full results are available here. After a break for the holidays the Williamston grapplers next wrestle at the Goodrich Tournament of Champions, December 29th.

The Williamston Grapplers move to 10-2 with four wins at the Novi Round Robin Tournament. The Hornet's only lost came to a much improved Novi squad who went undefeated on the day. Williamston chalked up wins against: Flat Rock, Lake Orion, Plymouth Canton, and Novi 'B'. Hornet senior 215 pounder, John Wheeker, won the Hustler Award for the most falls in the least amount of time, 5 pins in 6 minutes 37 seconds. Full results are posted here. Next the Hornets meet up with the Panthers of Stockbridge Thursday night at home.

Tonight in their home gym the Hornets upped their record to 6-1 with victories over Leslie and Corunna. In the first match Williamston defeated the Blackhawks of Leslie 57-19, and then went on to defeat the Cavaliers 39-22. In the final match of the evening Corunna won over Leslie 57-18. Full results are posted here. The Hornets are next in action at the Novi Duals on Saturday.

In the season opener today at the Michigan Duals, held at Bay City Western High school the Hornets wrestled to a solid third place finish. In pool action Williamston defeated Bay City Western, Oxford, and Detroit Catholic Central to earn a spot in the semi-finals. The Hornets lost their semi-final to the eventual champion and Division 1 powerhouse Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central, but bounced back to defeat Grandville in the consolation final. Division 3 Williamston was the only school in the top four that was not in Division 1. Full results are posted here.

The Williamston Wrestlers start this years campaign Saturday, December forth at The Michigan Duals at Bay City Western High School. The action starts at 8am with our opening match against Bay City Western, followed by matches against Oxford and Detroit Catholic Central. This tournament matches up the top 16 dual meet teams in in state, so it looks to be the place to be for great wrestling on Saturday. To get there take I-75 to US-10, west to the Garfield Rd. exit and north to the high school. Please come and support the Hornets.

The News

The Preseason Report

Look for the competition to begin early when Williamston appears in the first annual "Michigan Duals" at Bay City Western High School on December 4th. This tournament will match-up the top 16 dual meet teams in the state to find out who really is the best in Michigan.

Please join the Williamston Wrestling Team at home and on the road for another exciting season of what truly is the oldest and greatest sport in the world.