Residents in the Orion area hoping to get a taste of high school wrestling finals games won’t have to travel far.
Wrestling teams from Rochester-Adams, Troy, and Pontiac high schools will be participating in the MHSAA Division I Wrestling Team District Finals, hosted by Lake Orion High School Feb. 10.
LOHS Directer of Athletics Bill Reiss said Lake Orion High School is ‘ideal location? for championships because of its location and amenities.
‘We can take people from the north, south, wherever, and our facilities are top rate,? said Reiss. ‘We generally get four to five finals a year, and have hosted sports from University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Oakland University.?
Some of the hosting responsibilities requires LOHS to provide ticket sellers, an announcer, referees, and other officials involved in the sport, but Reiss mentioned that some of the positions are being filled by volunteers from the wrestling teams at the high school.
In terms of Lake Orion’s chances in the final, Reiss thinks they have a good team, but said the football championship actually hurt the likelihood of a Lake Orion victory.
‘We’re still suffering a bit from the state championship, because when you go as long as we did with football, it can really diminish athletes that are on both teams,? said Reiss. ‘These kids are beat up, and overweight in terms of qualifying for the weight classes they are supposed to be in.?
Wrestling coach Cory Kuzinski agreed, and added that the current Lake Orion team is better in a ‘duel meet team rather than a tournament setting.?
‘They’re a pretty good team,? said Kuzinski, we have people like Adam Gros – he’s gone 28-7, and Dom Arnold – he’s 24-9 – which is pretty good, but right now the clear favorite to win is Rochester-Adams.
‘But there is always a chance.?
On their way to the district finals, Lake Orion split at a dual meet, Wednesday, Jan. 19.
The boys pinned Troy Athens, 54-13.
Anton Letiza (119), Cam Masters (125), John Atwater (130), Dan Veachin (145), Ethan Gros (160), Durham Basso (189), Adam Gros (171), John Yeglinski (215), David Moore, III (103, by void), Devon Fulcher (135, by void) and Deven Ellis (140, by void) all took wins for the Dragons.
The tides turned for Lake Orion when they competed against Oxford, ultimately losing 72-6.
The defeat brought them to their current 15-6 record. Adam Gros (171) secured points for the Dragons.

– Megan Collier contributed
to this report