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	The Ypsilanti Courier A Heritage Newspaper Weekly Publication

First round of state finals starts today

Qualifiers Gregg Eggbert, Alonzo Richardson and Chris Harris are preparing for individual matches

By Bruce Mason, Special Writer

PUBLISHED: March 8, 2007

State qualifiers Greg Eggbert and Alonzo Richardson attended the Big Ten wrestling championship Sunday in anticipation of state finals this weekend.

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While the grapplers were just observing matches in the tourney held at Michigan State University's Breslin Center, Eggbert, Richardson and teammate Chris Harris will be at The Palace of Auburn Hills Thursday to face their first round of competition in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 individual finals.

"All three of (the wrestlers) are pretty pumped up; pretty excited," head coach Claudell Ruffin said. "(They're) looking forward to the weekend."

In the first round, beginning at 2:45 p.m., the junior class Eggbert will take his 40–4 record against Greenville freshman Collin Fuller who holds a 30–6 record in the 119-pound weight class.

Harris, 42–7, a senior, will face Lowell sophomore Tim Gingerich, 34–11, in the 135-pound weight class while Richardson, 43–6, a senior, will face Sparta sophomore Adam Miller, 42–4, in the 152-pound weight class.

A win would advance each wrestler to the quarterfinals Friday starting at 11 a.m.

This past week, Ruffin took his state qualifiers to New Boston Huron, where he said they faced "pretty much the best competition."

As for this week, Ruffin kept them at Ypsilanti and is preaching focus before making that special trek to Auburn Hills.

Ruffin has been in this position before. In his fifth year as head coach at Ypsilanti, he has taken two, or more, wrestlers to the state finals each year.

He said this year's qualifiers may be able to take home a state title – something that hasn't been accomplished by previous Ypsilanti grapplers under his coaching reign.

"When you get to their level, it's more of a mental thing, more of a focus thing," Ruffin said.

"All three of them have a good chance of being all-staters this year."

Bruce Mason is a freelance sports writer for The View and Courier newspapers. He can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.