Northview's Phillips goes for regional wrestling title
Thursday, February 23, 2006
By Jeff ChaneyThe Grand Rapids Press
Alex Phillips is not winded this year, and that may spell trouble for any potential foes in the state tournament.
Last year, as a junior for the Northview wrestling team, Phillips came in midway through the season after transferring from Lakewood High School.
He still was able to take third in the state at 189 pounds in Division 2. This year it has been a full season, and Phillips is 38-1 after winning the district title at 189 pounds at Saturday's competition at Northview.
He beat Lowell's Alex Fleet 8-6.
"Last year I didn't have my wind up as much as this year because I didn't wrestle a full season," Phillips said. "This year, going a full season will help me."
"I have seen him wrestle better," Northview coach B.J. Schroder said of Phillips' championship match.
"I thought he dominated up until the finals, but he didn't have his best championship match. Alex knew that, but sometimes a match like that helps."
Phillips now will try and win a regional title Saturday at Reeths-Puffer High School.
If he gets through that tournament, it is off to the state finals March 9-11 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Phillips knows there are many more tough matches to get through if he wants to win a state title.
And one could come against his twin brother Eddie Phillips, who still wrestles for Lakewood.
The two will not meet until the state finals, and may not meet until the championship match.
That will be determined when the Michigan High School Athletic Association pairs the field.
Alex Phillips does not want to look that far ahead.
"I think it will be a good match, but I don't want to say anything about it," Alex Phillips said.
"I am looking forward to it, but not looking forward to it. We have both worked hard for a state championship, and if we meet one won't get a state championship."
Last year Eddie Phillips took second in the 171-pound weight class in Division 2.
"That will be a huge match," Schroder said. "We don't ever know if there has ever been twins in the finals. But we are not looking ahead, we want to take it a match at a time.
"We know that if you look to far ahead you might not get there and Alex knows that. We have two steps down, a conference and a district championship."
Next step is Saturday.
"I feel pretty good," Alex Phillips said. "I'm looking forward to going down to state."
By Jeff ChaneyThe Grand Rapids Press
Alex Phillips is not winded this year, and that may spell trouble for any potential foes in the state tournament.
Last year, as a junior for the Northview wrestling team, Phillips came in midway through the season after transferring from Lakewood High School.
He still was able to take third in the state at 189 pounds in Division 2. This year it has been a full season, and Phillips is 38-1 after winning the district title at 189 pounds at Saturday's competition at Northview.
He beat Lowell's Alex Fleet 8-6.
"Last year I didn't have my wind up as much as this year because I didn't wrestle a full season," Phillips said. "This year, going a full season will help me."
"I have seen him wrestle better," Northview coach B.J. Schroder said of Phillips' championship match.
"I thought he dominated up until the finals, but he didn't have his best championship match. Alex knew that, but sometimes a match like that helps."
Phillips now will try and win a regional title Saturday at Reeths-Puffer High School.
If he gets through that tournament, it is off to the state finals March 9-11 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Phillips knows there are many more tough matches to get through if he wants to win a state title.
And one could come against his twin brother Eddie Phillips, who still wrestles for Lakewood.
The two will not meet until the state finals, and may not meet until the championship match.
That will be determined when the Michigan High School Athletic Association pairs the field.
Alex Phillips does not want to look that far ahead.
"I think it will be a good match, but I don't want to say anything about it," Alex Phillips said.
"I am looking forward to it, but not looking forward to it. We have both worked hard for a state championship, and if we meet one won't get a state championship."
Last year Eddie Phillips took second in the 171-pound weight class in Division 2.
"That will be a huge match," Schroder said. "We don't ever know if there has ever been twins in the finals. But we are not looking ahead, we want to take it a match at a time.
"We know that if you look to far ahead you might not get there and Alex knows that. We have two steps down, a conference and a district championship."
Next step is Saturday.
"I feel pretty good," Alex Phillips said. "I'm looking forward to going down to state."
posted by Alesheia @ 3:25 AM
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