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Release Date: 
Monday, May 25, 2020

New wrestlers join Hawks squad for 2020-21 season

Coach MacKenzie and the 2019-20 squad brought home the hardware, winning the MCCAA State Championships, among other accomplishments
Coach MacKenzie and the 2019-20 squad brought home the hardware, winning the MCCAA State Championships, among other accomplishments

In the aftermath of a successful season, the HFC Wrestling Team has recruited several new grapplers for the 2020-21 season.

“I’m very proud that these young men want to wrestle for the Hawks this year,” said Coach Grant MacKenzie.

MacKenzie noted that Vaughn Petty, of Chippewa Valley High School in Clinton Township, is the first wrestler at HFC to be accepted into the College’s Henry Ford II Honors Program.

“Student-athletes like Vaughn Petty set an example for their teammates with their prowess not only on the mat, but also in the classroom,” said MacKenzie.

Meet the new recruits

The new recruits include:

Sadiq Sheeknmeeri
John Glenn High School in Westland
Major at HFC: Criminal Justice
Projected Weight Class: 197 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state qualifier
• Varsity wrestling
• Varsity soccer

Michael McVay
John Glenn High School in Westland
Major at HFC: Business Administration
Projected Weight Class: 285 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• Varsity wrestling

Logan Valente
John Glenn High School in Westland
Major at HFC: Physical Therapy Assistant
Projected Weight Class: 165 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• Varsity wrestling
• Varsity football (captain, senior year)
Academic Honors:
• Honor Roll Student
• National Technical Honors Society

Anthony Payne
Monroe High School
Major at HFC: Pre-Radiography
Projected Weight Class: 133 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA state qualifier
• Varsity wrestling (captain, senior year)

Vaughn Petty
Chippewa Valley High School in Clinton Township
Major at HFC: Chemistry
Projected Weight Class: 175 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSAA state qualifier (8th place)
• Varsity wrestling (captain, senior year)
• Detroit Roughneck Wrestling Team
• Mid-American Conference (MAC) All-Academic Wrestling Team
Academic Honors:
• GPA of 3.9
• All-MAC Conference Academic Team (four times)
• 1st Team All County (2020)
• All State Academic Team
• First wrestler to be accepted into HFC’s Henry Ford II Honors Program

Ivan Hernandez
Lincoln Park High School
Major at HFC: General Studies
Projected Weight Class: 285 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSAA state qualifier
• MHSAA regional qualifier (two times)

Peleke Kelly
Lincoln Park High School
Major at HFC: Nutritional Science
Projected Weight Class: 165 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• Varsity wrestling (captain, senior year)
• Varsity football
• Track & field

Jack Micallef
Livonia Stevenson High School
Major at HFC: Criminal Justice
Weight Class: 184 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSAA regional qualifier
• Varsity wrestling (captain, senior year)
• Varsity football

Shakaleb Nicholson
Redford Union High School
Major at HFC: Criminal Justice
Weight Class: 149 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA state qualifier (two times)

Grant Imus
Mott High School in Waterford
Major at HFC: Automotive Technology
Projected Weight Class: 197 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• Varsity wrestling

Robert Copley
Huron High School in New Boston
Major at HFC: Criminal Justice
Projected Weight Class: 149 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA state qualifier
• MHSSA regional qualifier (two times)

Daniel Tyler
Garden City High School
Major at HFC: Criminal Justice
Projected Weight Class: 184 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA regional qualifier
• Varsity wrestling (captain, senior year)

Daniel Bragiel
Churchill High School in Livonia
Major at HFC: Physical Therapy
Projected Weight Class: 141 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA regional qualifier
• Varsity wrestling (captain, senior year)
• Cross-country
• Track & field

Isaac Stench
Anderson High School in Southgate
Major at HFC: Undeclared
Projected Weight Class: 140 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA state qualifier (placed 8th in the 140 weight class in 2020)
• MHSSA regional qualifier (three times)

Ameer Joyner
Ferndale High School
Major at HFC: Welding Technology
Projected Weight Class: 125 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• Varsity wrestling

Steve McCoy
Allen Park High School
Major at HFC: Business Management
Projected Weight Class: 184 lbs.
Athletic Career Highlights:
• MHSSA state qualifier
• MHSSA regional qualifier (two times)

“Our post-season success over the last two years has definitely made a positive impact on incoming recruits for next season,” said MacKenzie. “People have noticed there’s something special happening at HFC. They clearly see our wrestling program as a valuable place to gain skills and compete."

Plans for practices and competition will, of course, depend on developments with the COVID-19 pandemic. At this point, the wrestling team and other Hawks squads plan to compete in the 2020-21 campaign.