Senior wrestler Martise Weaver will represent Southfield High at the state wrestling tournament scheduled for March 6 and 7 at The Palace of Auburn Hills.

He is slated to compete in the 189-pound weight class after placing fourth at regionals.

Weaver said, “I can’t be satisfied with how far I’ve come; I still have a goal to reach. Listening to my coach and wrestling smart is my only chance to bring home the title.”

“Weaver is a lot of fun to watch wrestle,” said Coach Tim Conley. “He is an excellent talent and works hard.”

Team Captain Makene Culpepper said, “Nobody (from Southfield) ever placed in states in the last six years, so the whole team is proud and is behind him with nothing but support.”

The team had five other seniors besides Weaver qualify for regionals: Culpepper, Anthony Springer, Kris Magnum, Aaron Collins and Christian Daniels.

Culpepper and Magnum were each one match away from making it to states with Weaver. They lost in the “blood round,” which is the last round at regionals to determine whether a wrestler is eliminated or moves on to states. Weaver won his blood round with a double-legged takedown.

“The blood round is a lot of pressure,” Culpepper said. “It’s just a win or go home match.”