Grapplers took their opponents to the mats last Wednesday to open the winter season with two wins.
“The outcome was good,” said Clarkston Varsity Wrestling Coach Derek Moscovic. “We need to work on our conditioning and some of our mental toughness but overall I was pleased with the end result.”
First they took on Lapeer West to have ten wrestlers win their matches to put the team 48-25.
Wins came from Jake Dionne (135) void; Mike Cardinale (130) major decision, 11-3;Tyler Slating (140) major decision, 9-1; Grant Ulrich (145) pin 3:54; Nick Vandermeer (160) pin 5:32; Chris Calvano (189) pin :21; Adam Myers (215) decision, 9-5; Luis Reyes (289) major decision, 15-6; Nate Vandermeer (112) pin 2:57; and Connor Ryan (119) pin 2:29.
They went on to finish the night with a 58-12 win over Grand Blanc with wins from Ryan, pin 4:55; Cameron Wilkie (125) pin :49; Cardinale, pin 6:52; Dionne, pin 2:19; Slating, major decision, 8-7; Ulrich, major decision, 15-1; Marc Bosnack (152) decision, 9-6; Nick Vandermeer, void; Josh Cohoon (171) pin 1:50; Calvano, pin :22; Myers, pin 3:01; and Reyes, pin.
“Cardinale wrestled really well,” Moscovic added. “Calvano, Nick Vandermeer and Dionne came out with some pins when we needed them.”
Clarkston went 3-1 at the Rocket Duals on Saturday. They beat Wyandotte, 58-10, John Glenn, 54-15, Livonia Franklin, 45-24 and lost to Detroit Catholic Central, 50-12.
Mitchell Nelson and Calvano were undefeated for the day, going 4-0.
Moscovic added Dionne, Myers, Cardinale and Nick Vandermeer had good performances for the day and wrestled well. Vandermeer almost went undefeated for the day and was winning one of his matches but lost in the last few seconds.
“Detroit Catholic Central is a high quality team but it shows we have guys on the team who can compete at that level,” said Moscovic. “It is where they need to be by the end of the year.”
The Wolves head to Horn Memorial in Holland this Saturday.
“It will be extremely tough,” said Moscovic. “All teams are ranked in all four divisions. There won’t be any easy matches. We start out with Rockford. They have been a power house the last few years.”