West Bloomfield High wrestler takes county crown

By Christian Davis
C & G Sports Writer

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Heading into the Oakland County wrestling tournament final Dec. 19 at Oxford High, Chris Heald felt he had something to prove.

“I wanted to prove that I am a good wrestler, and I wanted to show everybody,” said Heald during a Dec. 23 practice. “I’m glad I did.”

Heald dominated opponents on his way to a county title at 189 pounds, winning his final match in a 15-0 technical fall to wrap up the competition without being scored on.

Heald has been on the biggest stage in the county before, making it all the way to the final match last year before losing to Lake Orion’s Evan Gros, who would later go on to win the Division 1 state title.

“I think that was the match that he really grew up on, because since then, he’s wrestled really, really tough,” coach Greg Alessi said.

At press time, Heald was 19-0 overall. Last season, he finished 55-6 and placed fourth in the D-1 state final.

“We expected him to win the county,” Alessi said. “He’s beaten some really good kids this year, and he’s wrestling really well.”

 Heald was a two-way starter on the football team, but he still managed to put in extra time on the mat over the summer and fall in an effort to improve his skills.

“No matter what I did, I always came back to the (wrestling) room and wrestled, wrestled hard,” he said, noting that the football coaches understood that the skills he was working on for wrestling were much the same as football. 

Alessi said the biggest difference in Heald this season is his confidence.

“He’s stronger, a little more aggressive, but he doesn’t make a lot of mistakes,” the coach said. “He’s patient, not flashy. He scores and really grinds down guys physically.”

Alessi said another attribute that sets Heald apart is his passion for the sport.

“A lot of kids at this stage, even if they’re good, they have their minds on other things,” Alessi said. “He’s really driven. Wrestling is his first love.”

Heald is West Bloomfield’s first county champ since Chris Kinaya in 2004. He’s now chasing perfection.

“I just do not want to lose this season,” Heald said. “My goal is to finish undefeated, win a state championship, and hopefully, wrestle in the Big Ten.”

Catch the Lakers when they meet Troy Athens at 6 p.m. Jan. 6 at Athens.

You can reach Sports Writer Christian Davis at cdavis@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1062.