All season long, the Clarkston wrestling team showed they were the team to beat in Oakland Activities Association Division I.
The Wolves again proved they’re the best in OAA I, capturing the OAA I tournament Friday at Lake Orion. Clarkston finished with 194.5 points, easily outdistancing second-place West Bloomfield, which finished with 125.5 points.
Five Clarkston grapplers took first place in their weight classes to lead the team to the tourney win. Matt Herron (103) defeated John Delia of Rochester by a 15-0 decision; Tony LaJoie (130) defeated Chris Kinaya of West Bloomfield by a 4-2 decision; Brenton Place (160) pinned Eric Hollman of Troy in 5:38; Kyle Hester (189) defeated Travis Leonard by an 11-0 decision; and Joe Wood (275) defeated Chris Woodley of Avondale by a 3-2 decision.
In addition, three Clarkston wrestlers earned runner-up finishes in their weight classes. Elliot May (119) lost to Danny Mason of Troy by a 7-5 decision; John Langdon (145) lost to Jesse Smith of Lake Orion by a 9-4 decision; and Jason Talbot (215) lost to Jon Farley of Rochester Adams by a 6-4 decision.
Four other Clarkston wrestlers placed at the meet: Josh McAllister (third, 135), Steve Smiley (third, 171), Bryan Webb (fourth, 125) and Nate Parker (fourth, 140).
The Wolves were still competing without Sean Turner and Clint DeGain, who have been recovering from the flu. However, Coach Mike DeGain said both wrestlers should be ready to go for Thursday’s team district competition.
The Wolves geared up for the league meet with two victories in a Feb. 4 meet at Clarkston High School, defeating Detroit Catholic Central 51-20 and Center Line 56-16.
The Shamrocks took an early 10-0 lead in their match against the Wolves, but Elliot May (112) and Webb (125) won decisions, and LaJoie won by pinfall at 2:47 of his match in the 130-pound division to put the Wolves in front 12-10.
Braden L’Amoreaux scored another pinfall win for Clarkston at 135 pounds, then Langdon provided some drama in his 140-pound match with Catholic Central’s Nate Rodriguez.
Langdon, who was returning to the lineup after missing a couple of weeks due to the flu, fell behind early, but rallied and scored several near falls as the Clarkston crowd and Langdon’s teammates urged him on.
At 4:25 of the match, Langdon scored a pinfall win against Rodriguez as the crowd roared its approval and the Wolves congratulated their teammate.
Other Clarkston wrestlers scoring pinfall wins against Catholic Central were Parker (145), Hester (189), Talbot (215) and Wood (275). Smiley (160) won by decision.
Against Center Line, L’Amoreaux, Smiley and Wood earned pinfall wins. Langdon won an injury default, while Parker won on a technical fall and Nate May (152) won by decision. Herron (103), May, LaJoie and Hester won on voids.
The Wolves now get ready for team districts Thursday, Feb. 13. Clarkston takes on Rochester in first-round action, then faces the winner of the Rochester Adams-Lake Orion match in the second round.
Mike DeGain is optimistic about the Wolves’ chances. “If we wrestle to our ability, we shouldn’t face too many problems,” he said.