The road to finals continues as grapplers move on to the MHSAA Regional tournament this week.
The Clarkston Varsity Wrestling team opened the week by capturing the MHSAA District crown after defeating Waterford Kettering, 58-15.
“We beat them by more than we did last year,” said senior Ethan Frick. “It means we are improving.”
“It was a good tournament,” senior Scott DeVos added.
The boys started the night against Waterford Mott and succeeded in a quick match for a 78-6 win as Kettering went against Pontiac for a 47-24 win.
“Mott didn’t have a full team but they came out,” said Coach Derek Moscovic. “We had some of our starters out from injuries. Guys stepped up.”
The boys also had nine qualify for MHSAA Individual Regionals, with DeVos leading as champion for the 285-pound weight class.
“It was a big day,” said Moscovic. “I am proud of how the guys wrestled. DeVos wrestled well throughout the day. “
Nick Vandermeer (152) finished in second place after a close 5-4 battle with Hartland’s Michael Thomas. Chris Calvano (171) also took second after a lost to Justin Charneski from Hartland, 5-3.
Grant Ulrich (140) defeated Davge Dolehanty from Kettering, 3-1, for a third place finish. Frick defeated Walled Lake Central’s Charles Sovel in the 189-pound weight class, 4-2.
“Ethan got beat but came back and wrestled well,” said Moscovic.
Greg Miller and Ethan Lisewski both qualified for the 103-pound weight class after wrestling each other for the third place finish. Miller succeeded with a pin on his teammate 59 seconds into the match.
“Sometimes as competitive as you are it makes it awkward to wrestle each other on the district level, twice,” Moscovic added. “If they qualify this weekend it will be a different story because the winner will move on to state finals. Emotions will probably run high. I am proud of both of them for being regional qualifiers.”
Cameron Wilkie (119) and Jake Dionne (125) finished in fourth place securing their spot for the next tournament.
“Jake has had an up and down season,” Moscovic added. “He really did well and took fourth.”
The Wolves head to Waterford Mott this Wednesday to take on Birmingham Seaholm, 5:30 p.m. The winner moves on to battle Hartland or Farmington Hills Harrison.
“Hartland is ranked in state and have All-State wrestlers on their team,” said Moscovic. “For us to do it we will have to win some matches and some close matches. We can do it.”
“We are going to have to wrestle our best to beat Hartland but it possible,” Frick added.
The nine wrestlers head to the MHSAA Individual Regionals on Saturday at Davison, 10 a.m. where they will face Hartland again along with wrestlers from Davison, starting weight is 135 pounds.