Sports
Stunner! Brighton Wrestler Calderon Beats Three-Time State Champ
Calderon wins state title on Saturday night in the 152-pound weight class by beating Detroit Catholic Central's Alec Mooradian on a 3-2 decision.
AUBURN HILLS - Brighton junior Aaron Calderon approached his state finals match (152 pound) like it was just another match. He looked at his opponent Detroit Catholic Central senior Alec Mooradian as just another wrestler.
Just another wrestler looking to become only the 15th wrestler in state history to win four state titles.
“He had everything to lose, I had everything to gain that helped me take the pressure off,” Calderson said, of the three-time defending champion. “He’s just a kid my age. I can be just as strong, just as fast and just as good. That was my mindset.”
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His mindset helped him pull of a stunning upset on Saturday night at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
Calderon (58-2) fended off Mooradian’s desperate takedowns in the final 20 seconds to win a 3-2 decision and bring home an individual state title.
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“It’s amazing, the best feeling,” Calderon said. “I can’t explain it.”
The wild finish had Detroit Catholic Central fans in a frenzy. Mooradian swung around Calderon to get points for a takedown, but never fully gained control. Calderon kept moving all the way throughout and they went back-and-forth until the final whistle.
“Really close,” Calderon said. “I wasn’t sure they were going to award him the two or not, they didn’t, I got out. We were scrambling around and I came out on top.”
Both wrestlers were called for stalling earlier in the match, so it put Calderon in a dangerous position. A second warning would give Mooradian a point.
Brighton coach Sam Amine had one thought going through his head as time ticked down.
“Keep wrestling, keep wrestling, keep wrestling,” Amine said. “We knew both guys had been warned for stalling, we had to make sure to keep that match going.”
For Amine, it felt like an eternity for the clock to hit zero.
“I was looking at the clock out of the corner of my eye,” he said. “It was the longest 20 seconds of my life.”
When the match finally ended, the Brighton cheering section overwhelmed the Catholic Central contingent that was unhappy with the referees non-call. The Bulldogs fans went wild as Calderon ran into his coach’s arms.
After his s, Calderon said those fans helped him get to this point in the season.
“I have a lot of people up there supporting me,” he said. “I’ve had my coaches, my parents pushing me every single day, family, friends, everybody has contributed to my success getting here.”
On Saturday, he also owed some thanks to his teammates. To win the match he borrowed one of his teammate's moves to hit a takedown in the second round.
“It was quick little pick,” Calderon said. “My teammate Jordan Amine, I see it work for him a lot so I figured I’d try it. My high crotches weren’t working, which is usually my main takedown, so I have to give him credit for that.”
The junior competed at The Palace last year, but lost his first two matches and went home. This year, he’s headed home with some hardware.
“He said he’s going to leave it all on the mat,” Amine said. “We did that tonight, we got the takedown we needed. I give him a lot of credit.”
More coverage
A replay of Saturday's action, from start to finish
The consolations, quarterfinals and semifinal rounds
: Round One of the MHSAA Individual Wrestling Tournament
All the early action
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