The music from the MHSAA Wrestling Individual Finals Grand March keeps five Clarkston athletes focused.
Seniors Matt Deitz, Evan King, Zac Roberson and juniors Jeff Sloney and Matt Vandermeer are using their time to get ready for the finals this week.
‘I am excited,? said Vandermeer about his first time competing in the finals.
He missed out on going last year with the four returning wrestlers due to an injury. But he is looking forward to seeing other grapplers he was pitted against during the last year.
‘I like seeing them again,? he said. ‘I know their strengths. I know their weaknesses. I know what I have to do to beat them.?
Deitz agreed.
‘I can plan for the match and create a strategy going in there,? he added. ‘Instead of going in there not knowing what to do.?
King admitted he was nervous because he didn’t place last year but one of his strengths is positive thinking.
‘I have a tough bracket,? he said. ‘But all of the guys I wrestled at regionals I lost by a few points. So I am at the same level as everybody else.?
Roberson said what will help him is the experiences he had at the state finals last year.
‘It’s not as nerve-wrecking,? he noted. ‘You know what to expect (in the environment.)?
While most of his teammates are using the advantage of knowing their opponents? weaknesses, Roberson is focused on the body in front of him and the goal he has set.
The battles are this Thursday to Saturday at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Grand March is at 2:15 p.m. and the first round starts at 2:45 p.m. Roberson is first on the mat for Clarkston, fighting for the championship in the 112-weight class against Mark Gonzales from Bay City Central.
For their first rounds, Sloney (125) against Detroit Catholic Central’s Charlie Joseph, Deitz (140) against Monroe’s Denver McLaughlin, King (160) against Dearborn’s Dino Berri, and Vandermeer (171) against Lowell’s Ryan Olep.
‘I am excited,? said Deitz. ‘I put four years into high school wrestling and it is all boiling down to this week.?
Tickets are $45 reserved for all sessions. Single-session reserved seat tickets are $10 each and general admission seats are $9 per session. Ticket prices include parking.
Tickets can be purchased at The Palace Box Office, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., 248-377-0100.
Check the Wolfpack Update at www.ClarkstonNews.com for the latest.