AUBURN HILLS — Chad Vallone of Utica Eisenhower picked the right
time to beat Joel Trombly of New Baltimore Anchor Bay.
Vallone, who lost to Trombly in the Macomb County and Division 1
regional title matches, earned a 4-3 victory over his top rival in
the Division 1 125-pound championship match Saturday.
Vallone, a senior, had two first-period takedowns to lead 4-0 on the
way to becoming a two-time state champion. He won at 119 pounds last
season. Trombly, a senior, finished 202-19 for his career, including
59-2 this season. He placed third at 125 pounds last year and third
at 112 as a sophomore.
“They key was getting the first takedown against him, “said Vallone
who improved to 46-2 with the lone losses coming against Trombly, 11-
6 and 12-4. “It was a great way to cap off my career because I lost
to him twice before.”
Kevin Julien of Fraser defeated Kyle Kidder of Davison, 1-0, in
double overtime in the 135-pound Division 1 title match, holding
Kidder down for 30 seconds for the difference.
Julien, 56-1, almost didn’t get a chance to compete in the final.
“I broke my rib in the semifinals, “said Julien, a senior who
finished fifth at 125 pounds last year. “I had to beg my dad to let
me wrestle. I had to go my last six minutes. It turned out to be 7
1/2 (minutes). I wasn’t nervous. I’ve waited 12 years for this (state
championship).”
Anthony Biondo (145) of Clinton Township Chippewa Valley and Jon
Reader (160) of Davison became three-time state champions. Biondo
will wrestle at Michigan and Reader, Iowa State. Reader set a school-
record for career victories (231-6).
Eddie Phillips of Lakewood defeated his twin brother, Alex, of Grand
Rapids Northview 8-3 in the 189-pound Division 2 title match.
Nick Anurak of Hartland and Jarod Trice of Highland Park became first
time state champions. Both wrestled at 275; Anurak in Division 1 and
Trice, Division 3.
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