Jake Varilek, a 2009 graduate of Lake Orion High School and redshirt freshman at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina, qualified for the NCAA Division II National Wrestling Tournament after placing second in his region.
In reaching the finals, he upset the number three and number two seeds in consecutive matches before falling to the defending national champion in the finals.
Varilek fell one win short of all-american status at the national tournament Saturday, March 13. While wrestling as a LO Dragon, Varilek was a four-time OAA champion, a four-time Oakland County placer, an Oakland County Champion, a four-time state qualifier, and a state champion. He ended his high school career as the all-time Dragon win leader.