Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Clinton Township Chippewa Valley senior Michael Pawlitz place second in the individual district tourney Feb. 13 at Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse and advanced to the Rochester High regional, which gets under way Feb. 20.

Favorite part of competing as an individual:
“After your matches, you can actually take time, sit down and think about your match,” said Pawlitz, of the difference between wrestling in a tournament and a dual meet.

“You get re-hydrated, eat something and get horizontal. I like to bring a pillow, get horizontal and sleep, so I can really focus on my next match.”

What you’ve done different this year:
“I’m doing the same things I did last year in season, but all the things I did in the offseason, I stepped it up to set the tone,” Pawlitz said.

“After I got knocked out of the blood round (consolation round) in the state finals last year, I went to work to get ready for this year. But in season, it was letting my coaches take over, which means non-stop go, go, go.”

Coach’s outlook:
“He has a smooth transition from one move to another,” Chippewa Valley coach Gary Brundirks said of Pawlitz whose 36 pins at press time tied the Chippewa Valley record for pins in a season.

“That’s an improvement from last year where, if one move wasn’t working, he would get frustrated. Now, he’s at the point where if one move doesn’t work, he moves on to another one.”

You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.