The adage goes ‘Make new friend but keep the old ones, some are silver and the rest are gold.?
Clarkston’s wrestling team got back in touch with one of their longtime friends of the golden variety on Feb. 10 as they reclaimed the OAA I League crown from Lake Orion.
The Wolves string of three straight league titles from 2002-04 was snapped in 2005 by the Dragons. Clarkston has now won the OAA I 14 times since 1980.
‘It’s a good rivalry. I’m really happy Lake Orion is doing so well because it is good for our league as a whole,? Clarkston Coach Joe DeGain said.
?(The Clarkston/Lake Orion rivalry) has been going on for 25 years and it’s just going to keep right on going,? Lake Orion Coach Doug Kline said
Clarkston finished with a total of 192.5 points, thanks in large part to five first place finishers and eight total finalists across 14 weight divisions. Lake Orion finished in second place with 181 points followed by Troy (106.5) in third. Rochester High (103) ended up in fourth followed by West Bloomfield (99.5), Avondale (46), Waterford Mott (45) and Troy Athens (43).
Lake Orion held a 165-156.5 advantage over the Wolves going into the championship rounds, but Clarkston held a trump card with eight wrestlers qualified for the finals to the Dragons? seven.
‘I’m really pleased with how the guys wrestled as far as the guys wrestling with confidence and believing in themselves,? DeGain said.
With the league title still up for grabs, Clarkston’s wrestlers snatched the crown with four straight victories, started by senior Colton Tweed, who pinned Lake Orion’s Ian Rocheleau to win the 145-pound league title.
Senior Bryant Craft followed Tweed’s lead with a dominating 24-11 victory over Rochester’s Peter Waszkiewicz to take the 152-pound bracket.
Next up for the Wolves was senior Tommy Ellsworth who bested Lake Orion’s Allen Sigler in a 9-6 decision to capture the 160-pound crown.
Completing the Wolves run of four straight wins was senior Josh McAllister who pinned Avondale’s Rob James in overtime to stake claim to the 171-pound bracket.
Sealing Clarkston’s championship was senior Steve Smiley who pinned Lake Orion’s Scott Avery to take the 215-pound division.
‘Our kids wrestled as hard as they could. I call them our not quite ready for prime time players,? Kline said.
In head-to-head finals matchups between Lake Orion and Clarkston the Wolves won three of five matches. Senior Steve Herron finished in second place at 275 pounds losing a 4-1 decision to Lake Orion’s Shane Tobin. Senior Mitch Miller lost a 9-4 decision to Lake Orion’s Jason Varilek and finished second at 135 pounds.
Junior Tyler Schneider (125 pounds), junior Josh Booker (130) and sophomore Adam Lauzen (189) all took third place finishes. Sophomore Eric Butterfield (140) also helped the Wolves cause with a fourth place finish.
With the league trophy back in the Wolves clutches, the team plunges headlong into the postseason. Team districts begin on Feb. 15 at Holly High School. Clarkston has a tough draw as the field will include Holly, Grand Blanc and No.3 Davison.
‘It will be a real test. If these guys believe and are confident, than we should be all right,? DeGain said.
Clarkston lost 41-26 to Davison on Dec. 13, but DeGain feels the team is much improved as a whole since then.
In case they do not get enough of Holly, Grand Blanc and Davison at team districts, Clarkston’s grapplers travel to Walled Lake Western on Feb. 18 for individual districts. Lake Orion’s wrestlers join the 15-team field as well at individual districts.