Collectively and individually, the Clarkston wrestling team excelled in district action last week.
The Wolves will be sending 11 wrestlers to regional action Saturday, Feb. 22. Those 11 people earned that right by qualifying in district action Saturday at Lake Orion.
Heading up the honor roll for Clarkston were Clint DeGain (171) and Tony LaJoie (125), who each won their weight class. DeGain defeated Rocky Rocheleau of Lake Orion in the finals by a 6-2 decision, while LaJoie decisioned Rochester’s James Campbell 7-4.
Five other Wolves earned runner-up honors in their weight classes and will be headed to regionals. They are: Matt Herron (103), who lost by decision to Josh Williams of Grand Blanc, 6-1; Braden L’Amoreaux (130), who lost a 3-1 decision to Davison’s Cory Rogers; John Langdon (140), who lost by pinfall in 1:55 to Davison’s Brent Metcalf; Kyle Hester (189), who was pinned by Davison’s Jesse Reader in 1:50; and Joe Wood (275), who lost a 5-4 overtime decision to Utica Eisenhower’s Mike Efthemious.
The other Clarkston regional qualifiers, along with their finish in Saturday’s district action, are: Elliot May (third, 112), Bryan Webb (third, 119), Brenton Place (third, 160) and Sean Turner (fourth, 152).
Coach Mike DeGain stated Saturday’s accomplishment was an impressive one for the Wolves.
“I don’t think we’ve had more than that (11 regional qualifiers) before,” he said. “That was a pretty competitive district. Jason Talbott (215) didn’t make it through, and he was a state qualifier last year. We thought every one of them (who made it to regionals) had a chance to make it through.”
In team district action Thursday, Feb. 13, the Wolves handily defeated Lake Orion 74-6 and Rochester 66-6.
The Wolves will face a stern test at the team regionals Wednesday at Clarkston High School, beginning at 5:30 p.m. In one bracket, Clarkston takes on defending state champion Davison, while West Bloomfield takes on Waterford Mott in the other bracket.
Coach DeGain stated his team is ready for the challenge. “We’ve known about this for a long time,” he said. “We’ve been preparing for it all year, and if they’re not ready for it by now, they never will be.”