By Kristie Orselli

Review Sports Contributor

The road to the state individual wrestling championships began almost four months ago with each wrestler hoping to be named one of the top eight in the state. For three Lake Orion wrestlers that path led them to Ford Field this past weekend. Senior Issac Kinne, Junior Anthony Vellucci and Junior Dominic Orselli competed against the best sixteen wrestlers in their weight class.

To be in the top eight, two wins are needed before two losses are recorded.

The first round on Friday morning proved victorious for each of the wrestlers. Vellucci, wrestling at 152 pounds, got his first win of the day beating Walled Lake Northern’s Billy Morris by technical fall 15-0.

Orselli, the 171 pounder, got by Jacob Navarro of Woodhaven with a 7-4 win. Kinne won his 189 lb. weight match 7-5 over Bryce Briggs of Caldonia.

The second round was more difficult as the competition increased. All three wrestlers came up short in their matches. Coincidentally losing to either the number one or number two wrestler in their weight class.

Next up was the elimination round, nicknamed the blood round. If you win you will be a state placer; if you lose you go home. Vellucci started off the round with an 8-1 victory over Mason Rimmer from Temperance Bedford. Orselli followed suit with an 8-2 decision over Harley Berne from Brighton. Kinne ended the round beating Paul Corder of Hartland 7-1. All three were headed to the second day of the competition guaranteed a spot on the podium.

Day two started early with Vellucci and Kinne not being able to come up with a win, losing close matches 5-3 and 7-3 respectively putting them into the placement round to compete for 7th th place. Orselli managed to top Aidan Wardell of Midland Dow 8-5 putting him into the next round. He would fall to Brighton’s Dane Donabedian 3-0 but would then vie for 5th place.

In the placement round, Vellucci finished off the day with a 7-2 win over Aiden Brown of Brighton ending in 7th place. Kinne ended his wrestling career with a pin over Justin Pronyk of Salem and finishing in 7th place. Orselli could not end the day with a win, losing his final match and taking 6th place. Overall, a great day for the Lake Orion wrestling team.