With summer conditioning workouts selecting their ingredients, Clarkston High School coaches have just under two weeks to let the August sun bake their teams into final form.
Varsity Football lost 23 seniors to graduation last year, including offensive and defensive lineman Jake Meissnest, quarterback Scott Leigh and starting wideouts Adam Briceland and Brad Goodman.
Despite his team’s losses, Clarkston Coach Kurt Richardson is not tempering his expectations for the Wolves. Clarkston made the MHSAA playoffs in each of the last two seasons.
The Wolves lost to Utica Eisenhower 10-7 in the first round of the playoffs last year.
‘My expectations are pretty high ? I don’t know if we are as big up front, (but) this team is faster than last year’s,? said Richardson.
The Wolves starting quarterback position is one of many to be determined by the final weeks of practice leading to Clarkston’s first game against Rochester Adams on Aug. 26.
Along with a new starting quarterback, the Wolves will also have a new look on offense: the option.
‘We have to fine tune the offense and make sure the ball is not being put on the ground,? said Richardson.
While the offense is new this year, the defense strategy remains unchanged.
‘We want 11 people to the football, bend but not break and stop the big play,? said Richardson. ‘If you stop the big play in high school and make teams march down the field, they are going to eventually make mistakes.?
Richardson was pleased with the commitment of his players during summer conditioning, and their performance and behavior at the team camp they attended at Saginaw Valley State University. According to Richardson, this was the first time Clarkston went to team camp since 1996.
Varsity Girls Basketball has a new head coach this year in Tim Wasilk, but will continue to build on former Coach Ann Lowney’s principles.
‘Obviously (Lowney) did a terrific of setting up the program. The girls already have the feel and know how to execute what I want to accomplish,? said Wasilk.
According to Wasilk, the Wolves will continue to use a man to man strategy on defense; employ a perimeter oriented motion offense, at times switching to formations featuring three perimeter players and two players in the post; and run a fast break similar to that of the boys team.
‘The next two weeks of double sessions is going to tell me a lot,? said Wasilk. ‘I will have a good feel for what individuals can do.?
Wasilk said once he understands where each player’s sweet spot on the court is, he plans on calling plays to accentuate them.
While the Wolves were not particularly tall last year, the graduations of All-OAA I selection and starter Stephanie Parkin (5?10?); starters Jill Kouri (5?6?) and Leigh Christy (5?10?); and Julia Connor (5?11?) create a large vacuum in the middle.
Wasilk is heartened by the experience the team has at the guard positions.
Clarkston’s season ended last year in the district semifinals by Waterford Kettering in a 49-45 defeat.
The 2005 girls basketball season opens up on the road against Grand Blanc on Aug. 29.
Varsity Boys Soccer is riding high into the 2005 season after winning their second straight Eastern Michigan University team camp championship. The Clarkston soccer program is also enjoying an unprecedented level of participation.
‘We had 42 kids at team camp. That’s the most I’ve ever had,? said third year coach Mark Whitcomb, adding the team’s summer conditioning sessions drew an average of 36 participants.
The large pool of players is especially heartening as there are some big cleats to fill this year. Dream Team and All-State defender Mike Holody, Second Team All-State selection Mike Klemm and the rest of the Wolves starting defense all graduated last year. Clarkston lost ten seniors to graduation, leaving only eight players behind with varsity experience.
But after seeing his team play together at EMU, Whitcomb is ‘much more confident? about the coming season.
‘Sometimes the kids play harder when they look around and see they don’t have players like (Holody and Klemm) to lean on anymore,? said Whitcomb.
Whitcomb believes the team’s strength lies in their midfield and goaltending this year. Several young players? ability have caught Whitcomb’s eye in the opening weeks of practice.
‘We can’t replace (Holody and Klemm). I may have to move some kids around. Some kids are going to be playing positions they are not used to,? said Whitcomb.
Clarkston has scant time to iron out practice kinks as the season kicks off Aug. 27 at the East Lansing Invitational Tournament followed by a home game at Grand Blanc on Aug. 29, and an away contest with Rochester High on Aug. 30.
Clarkston’s 2004 season was ended by a 2-0 defeat courtesy of Rochester Adams in the district final.
Varsity Girls Swimming coach Kenwynn Chock has waited for this swim season since the beginning of the program at Clarkston seven years ago.
‘Every year we get closer and closer to qualifying for states. This year we better be making states,? said Chock.
Chock’s optimism is fueled by the largest and most experienced swim team in Clarkston history. Last year, the team finished in second at the OAA III tournament and several swimmers missed state cut off times by a slim margin.
‘This year these girls are going to make the breakthrough,? said Chock, who feels the Wolves will also give perennial power Farmington Hills Harrison competition..
A big part of the swollen numbers in the pool and shrunken times at the finish line is the off season work of many swimmers in the Clarkston Sea Wolves swim club. Chock feels that three swimmers who came up swimming in the Sea Wolves have the ability to qualify for states in their first year of varsity competition.
‘Every year we get more and more accomplished swimmers from the Sea Wolves,? said Chock.
Clarkston begins the season on Aug. 29 at home against Grand Blanc and stay in friendly waters for their next meet against Lake Orion on Sept. 1.
Until the 2005 season kicks off, Chock will finalize roles and further training in twice daily workout sessions.