Josh McAllister will arrive at Muskegon Community College with a little more confidence in his wrestling career after taking first place in the 185-pound weight class at the Mott Bruin Classic.
The Bruin Classic is a tournament featuring some of the top wrestlers in the state who are attending a junior college to wrestle in the fall.
‘Everybody there was a lot faster than the wrestlers in high school,? McAllister said. ‘You could see speed change. Winning gives me some more confidence. It allowed to me start off on the right foot.?
McAllister’s goal at MCC is to follow in the footsteps of Clarkston graduate Ryan L’amoreaux, who won the Junior College National Championship and then went on to wrestle at Michigan State.
‘He’s one of the reasons I’m going there,? McAllister said. ‘They have a similar style of wrestling to Clarkston and they are a close team. They look out for each other. Muskegon also has good marketing and business programs, which is what I want to go into.?
McAllister was successful using Clarkston’s style of wrestling. He qualified for the state finals his junior year and took third place this past year as a senior. He also took third place both years at the Oakland County Meet and won the Howell Invitational this season.
The Clarkston graduate was also successful wrestling for Team Michigan, which is made of the top wrestlers from Michigan and competes at a national competition in Fargo, North Dakota against the 49 other states.
McAllister got involved with Team Michigan after he decided he wanted to wrestle during the high school off-season.
‘I wanted to get better so just wrestling during the high school season wasn’t doing it,? McAllister said. ‘I asked Coach Joe DeGain what to do in the offseason and he introduced me to Team Michigan. He showed me how to get involved and I went for it.?
Team Michigan only takes the top two qualifiers from each weight class. Qualifying was a huge accomplishment for McAllister, but he said he also changed his viewpoint on wrestling.
‘It made me realize how many better people than me are out there in the wrestling world,? McAllister said. ‘After that I knew I had to stay on top of my game have and to do that I have to work hard and not just during wrestling season.?
He also ended up wrestling in the Junior Olympics and took third place his sophomore year and second place his junior year.
McAllister said the Junior Olympics is a freestyle wrestling tournament unlike high school which is collegiate style. He credits learning the freestyle type of wrestling for helping him improve.
‘It teaches you different body moves and where to put your body at,? McAllister said. ‘It made me better as a wrestler. The more time you spend on the mat, the more you improve. I was able to keep my technique during the offseason.?
McAllister has some high goals for his wrestling career after graduating from Clarkston this year, but he credits Clarkston for helping him prepare for the competition he will have to face at Muskegon.
‘My time with Coach DeGain and Coach Derek Moscovic was great,? McAllister said. ‘They are really great guys. They stick with you. They don’t single out anybody on the team. They are there to better everybody.?