The Lake Orion varsity wrestling team returns most of the wrestlers from last year’s 32-6 team, but coach Doug Kline said his squad will have to work extremely hard to match the success of that season.
‘We were fifth at Oakland County and first in the OAA Division I tournament,? Kline said of last year’s team. ‘We didn’t graduate many, but the expectations are really high from the coaches, parents and wrestling community.?
Last year the Dragons were second at the Sexton Invite and their own Dragon meet, and finished first at East Detroit.
‘There’s no reason we can’t win Sexton and East Detroit this year,? said Kline. ‘We are seated for second in the Oakland County tournament. The kids have pretty high expectations themselves, but from a coaching standpoint, that’s a good thing.?
Last year’s team qualified two for the state tournament: Sophomore Jake Varilek, who returns this year and wrestles at 125; and Gerry Webber, who graduated.
Kline said the Dragons return a strong group, after graduating three weight classes.
‘We’re replacing all three with qualified kids,’he said. ‘They’ll be as good, if not better, skills-wise.?
Besides Varilek, the Dragons also return sophomore Spencer Grzadzinski (103), sophomore Brendan Tobin (103/114), sophomore AJ Pratt (119), sophomore Jeremy Peshl (125), and sophomore Billy Bissett (130/135).
Also back are senior Mike Carroll (152), senior Ian Rocheleau (140), sophomore Chance Hadden (145), and sophomore Phillip Antosh (145).
The roster is rounded out by senior Ben Knight (160/171), junior Allen Sigler (160/171), senior Scott Avery (189), and senior Shane Tobin (215).
Kline said with higher expectations comes more responsibility.
‘We were invited this year to take part in the Macomb Vs. Oakland challenge,? he said. ‘The top five teams from each county…We’ll also wrestle at the Hartland tournament, which is like a mini-all class state tournament.?
Kline said he was flattered the Dragons were invited.
‘It’s the top four teams from each division,? he said.
The team’s goals are to win the league, finish first or second at the county tournament and win the Sexton and Dragon tournaments.
‘The kids set a goal to win every tournament we compete in,? said Kline. ‘We have a legitimate shot to win our district.
‘We’ll be better at the end of the year, but our record may not reflect it,? he said. ‘I would be ecstatic to have last year’s record.?
Davison will compete in Lake Orion’s regional this year, and Kline said they are the best team in the state right now.
‘We just want to be competitive,? he said. ‘Last year was a surprise, but our schedule wasn’t very tough. I tell the kids, ‘last year was a gift, now let’s earn something.??
Among Lake Orion’s competition, Clarkston returns a strong team, as does West Bloomfield.
‘This is as tough of a schedule as we’ve ever had,? Kline said.
‘But these kids want to wrestle that way.?
The Dragons open their season on Dec. 1 at home against Oxford and Bay City Central, a team they haven’t wrestled before.
‘Oxford beat us last year,? said Kline. ‘They were young last year too, so that’ll be tough.?
The Dragons will host their Alumni Night on Jan. 6 at home against Waterford Kettering, a team that is returning strong.
‘We didn’t wrestle them last year, but they have everyone back,? Kline said.