By Kristie Orselli

Special contributor to The Review

Finally, after four long months of waiting, the Lake Orion High School wrestling team started their season on Saturday.

Due to COVID-19, the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) has restricted each competition to four teams with each wrestler allowed only three matches per day. Their opening dual meet was against Grand Blanc, Petoskey, and Hudsonville.

Returning state qualifiers Anthony Vellucci and Dominic Orselli went 3-0 on the day. Vellucci, wrestling at 160 pounds, had two pins and a technical fall. Orselli, who is in the 171-pound weight class, finished 3-0 on the day and had two pins.

Sophomore 215-pounder Judah Kinne finished 3-0 and also recorded two pins.

Many of the freshmen wrestlers also did well. Chad Parker at 103 pounds, Luke Brown at 112 pounds and Hunter Swatosh at 119 pounds all got their first high school wrestling win. All three of them had wins by pin.

The team came away winless but had two matches end in ties. In a dual meet in wrestling, if the team score is tied at the conclusion of all 14 weight classes, there are criteria in place that are used to determine a winner. There are 17 criteria and Lake Orion had one more void than the other team, thereby losing both matches.

The team is back in action at home on Wednesday, after Lake Orion Review press time, for their first league meet with Clarkston, Oxford, and Rochester.

To see more wrestling photos, go to www.lakeorionreview.com and look under the Sports tab.