Someone had to win battle of twins

Sunday, March 12, 2006
By Jeff ChaneyThe Grand Rapids Press

AUBURN HILLS -- Eddie Phillips admitted that it was the toughest match he ever wrestled.
Not just because the Lakewood High School senior was wrestling for his first state title, the 189-pound championship in Division 2 at The Palace Saturday, but also because his competition was against his twin brother Alex Phillips.

According to the Michigan High School Athletic Association, it was the first time two brothers wrestled for the title. Eddie Phillips beat Northview's Alex Phillips 8-3.

"It was a tough match," said Eddie Phillips, who finishes his senior year with a perfect 45-0 record. "We have wrestled with each other since we were little. We made each other."
But that was only in practice.

"Our parents never let us wrestle competitively, so that was really the first time," said Eddie Phillips, who was joined as champion by teammate Cody Dupont, who won the title at 275.
"We both knew each other's style, and that made it tough. The best way to scout someone is to wrestle them for half of your life."

A distraught Alex Phillips saw his senior record end at 44-2.

"It was more tough mentally than I thought," Alex Phillips said.

The Phillips' brothers weren't the only area wrestlers making noise this weekend in Auburn Hills.

The Rockford wrestling team sent 11 wrestlers to the state finals, and 11 came home with medals, including two state champions.