It’s a new year, and the start of a new era for the Lake Orion High School varsity wrestling team.
Head coach Doug Kline said that largely due to the efforts of a more involved parents group, the team is feeling a new energy going into this season, despite being very young.
‘This year is our 15th anniversary of our state championship, and we will have a homecoming in January with past wrestlers coming back,? Kline said. ‘We have a great parents group this year, and they are planning that. They also had the wrestling room painted.?
The wrestling team has 13 freshmen this year, and Kline said several starters from last year’s varsity chose not to wrestle this season.
‘Last year in OAA I we finished tied for fourth in the league, and 14-18 overall? he said. ‘This year, it’s become even tougher.
‘Basically, we had a few kids who were starters last year, but they didn’t have much success so they chose not to come back, which is too bad,? said Kline.
‘We also graduated T.J. DeGeorge, who was a starter, and Kenneth Cerka,? he said. ‘Those are two big hits and we haven’t been able to replace either one.?
Returning to this year’s varsity team are senior Jason Bothwell, senior Gerry Webber, and senior captain Darren Peshl. Returning juniors are Ian Rocheleau, Mike Carroll, Ben Knight, Vince Grupido, Alex Heitmann, Scott Avery, Kurtis Antosh, and Shane Tobin.
Returning sophomores are Allen Sigler and Alyicia Beattie.
‘We have such an exciting atmosphere in the room everyday,? Kline said. ‘As a head coach, I could never ask for any more.?
Kline also has a full coaching staff this year with varsity assistant Corey Kuzinski, a former three-year head coach from Waldon Middle School.
‘He has come up and helped us here,? Kline said. ‘He’s a bona fide wrestling gym rat.
‘He wrestled at Hartland High School, and he brings unbelievable enthusiasm.?
Two former Lake Orion wrestlers are now coaching the junior varsity squad: Mike Agro and Dave Allingham.
?(A full staff) comes as a direct result of a very supportive parents organization,? Kline said. ‘They are amazing. They have made it great to be a wrestler again.?
As far as leadership on the varsity team, Kline said Peshl is ‘fantastic.?
‘He’s a very strong leader,? he said. ‘I’m looking forward to his leadership.?
Kline said Webber is also working ‘extremely hard.?
‘Bothwell has put in a lot of time in the off season,? he said. ‘We got rid of a lot of kids (from last year) for a lot of different reasons…for the betterment of the program.?
Kline said his squad is young, but that all of the new wrestlers come to him with some middle school wrestling experience.
‘I’d be very happy with us finishing in the middle, as young as we are,? he said.
‘We didn’t have any state qualifiers last year, but there are kids in there this year with the potential.?