By Mike Musary, Special to The Review
Lake Orion wrestling program honored their seven seniors at home last Wednesday, Jan. 27 in between their two Oakland Activities Association (OAA) dual matches with Rochester Adams and Hazel Park.
Tucked between two wins on the night, the team’s seniors were honored, including Alex Antosh (189), A.J. Fligger (135), Josh Hofmann (189), Devon Meadows (160), Matt Musary (125), Willie Stewart (215) and Melissa Vernon (130).
The night started with a victory over Rochester Adams, 38?30, and concluded with a 31?25 win over Hazel Park.
Fligger, Hofmann, Musary and Stewart went 2?0 and Meadows won his only match of the night making it a perfect night for the seniors as they went 9?0.
Coach Cory Kuzinski said, ‘The seniors opportunity has come and they are making the most of it?.
Junior Dom Arnold had a good night as he had the clinching victory in both duals.
As a result of their two OAA victories, Lake Orion advanced to the Gold Division of the Oakland/Macomb Challenge at Waterford Kettering, Saturday, Jan. 31.
Macomb won the Challenge 13?12.
Lake Orion beat L’Anse Creuse 33?30 for their only win of the day, but the Dragons were very competitive. The team won eight of the 14 weight classes against number two Richmond (Division 3), but lost the dual 31?27.
On the week, Musary, Hofmann and Arnold went 7?0. Fligger and Stewart were both 6?1.
Ethan Gros (140) picked up four wins, and Meadows and Joey Kohler (285) each had three. Evan Redd (119) and Cameron Masters (125) picked up their first varsity wins and Ferris Dugan (119) saw his first varsity action.
‘We kind of knew going into the Clash of the Counties that it was going to be a grind,? said Kuzinski. ‘Wrestling the top five schools in Macomb County in one day always will be. It would have been easy for our boys to hang their heads after four straight dual losses. However, they fought until the end.?
He added, ‘They won the last dual against L’Anse Creuse by winning the close matches, getting the bonus points when the opportunity was there, and keeping the matches they couldn’t win close. We wrestle one of the toughest schedules in the state and this Saturday was a good example of that.?
The Lake Orion seniors went 29?5 on the week and are showing the underclassmen by example what it means to be ‘Dragon Tough.?
Lake Orion is now 19?15 on the season and headed to Troy Athens, Wednesday, Feb. 3, for their last OAA quad meet of the season. Come back next week for those results.