In what was Coach Doug Kline’s last home meet, the Lake Orion varsity wrestling team did him proud.
They beat rival and state wrestling powerhouse Clarkston 44-12.
‘We did extremely well,? Kline said. ‘That’s the big time, beating Clarkston. Everyone will tell you, if you want the respect of the county, that’s who you want to go through.?
The resounding victory saw wins by all the usual guys, Kline said.
Bobby Harr, Evan Gros, A.J. Fligger and Dougie Mack all posted wins.
‘Everyone just wrestled really well,? Kline added.
The Lake Orion squad also helped Oakland County overcome Macomb County in the annual Challenge.
Kline said Willy Stewart did a great job wrestling heavyweight, and went 4-1 for the day.
‘We needed him to step in and he did a great job.
Jake Pratt, wrestling with an injured hand at 119, also did a good job at the Challenge, going 4-1, according to Kline.
It forces a three-way tie in the OAA Red league between Rochester Adams, Clarkston and Lake Orion.
This will be resolved this Saturday, Feb. 14, at the OAA Division I tournament at West Bloomfield.
Kline is optimistic.
Early in the season, the team suffered from many injuries. Many of the wrestlers also play football for the Dragons. No one could complain, but the elonganted season due to the football team’s reaching the state finals in Novemeber made getting the wrestling team together more difficult.
Many of the wrestlers were in football shape, not wrestling shape, Kline said earlier in the season. Then came injuries to wrestlers like Mack, who was out at the beginning of the season.
Now, Kline feels his squad is at full strength.
‘We’re starting to get everybody back from injuries,? he said.
And with the league tournament this weekend, it wasn’t a moment too soon.
‘We’re getting healthy at the right time,? Kline added. ‘Our chances are as good as anybody’s now.?
See the Review next week for a profile on the retiring Coach Kline.