A new season is here and with it comes another chance for the wrestling team to shine.
Coach Corey Kuzinski said he is excited about his team’s potential.
The team graduated only four seniors, many top performers area returning and the team has a new crop of promising underclassmen they will now rely on to generate points. Kuzinski believes the season will pan out similar to last year.
‘With Clarkston, Oxford and Rochester being as good as they are, it makes it tough to break in,? he said. ‘We’ve been there too, we’ve had our turn, but now a lot has to go our way and we have to get better fast. Those teams are in the top 10 in the first division in the state.?
Realizing he has tough opponents, Kuzinski noted the lack of a youth organization hurt the skill of incoming wrestlers. The youth organizations have since restarted, but the skill level of many current wrestlers does not extend past high school, which on average has less than 30 matches a year.
‘Getting better does not happen over the course of a year,? he said. ‘When we were two-time state finalist, we had a nucleus of kids that came from the youth program.?
But the team still has a solid core of quality wrestlers. Kuzinski mentioned many from each weight class including junior Paul Scott who won 27 matches last year and has reached 240 pounds for the 2012/3 season. While he’s not quite up to the heavyweight 285 pound weight class, he is athletic, moves well, has technical skill and has a talent that can be improved.
In the 103 pound class freshman Dominic Fosmoen has talent and will wrestle on the low end while in the 112 lb., junior David Moore will return to score ‘a ton of points.? He comes into the 2012 season with 57 career wins, 37 of which were last year.
In the 119 lb., sophomore Kaelan Harbin, a transfer student from Lake Fenton High school is expected to do well, while senior Anton Letica will come back to the 125 lb. class with 50 career wins and varsity experience. Senior Juan Leon will cover the 130 lb. class for the first time without another wrestler in front of him and junior Charlie Highlen will return to the 135 lb. weight class as a two-time state qualifier and winner of 81 matches (41 in 2011.)
Freshman Chris Warren, a transfer from Dundee school district, will fill in at the 140 lb. weight class while freshmen Anthony Orselli and Jack McClear will seek to find a role in the 160 lb. range. Senior captain Ethan Gros will cover 171 lb. class and has 87 career wins (32 in 2011) and is a three-time Oakland County placer.
Senior co-captain Durham Basso has 55 career wins (35 in 2011) and will fill the spot at 189 lb. Kuzinski added that Basso is on the ‘precipice of making a big wave? and that he has proven a very hard worker.
‘That’s why he’s a co-captain,? said Kuzinski. ‘Kids look up to him and he goes about things the right way.?
Finally, Senior John Yeglinski returns with 20 wins and will take over in the 215 lb class.
The first match for the wrestlers is on Dec. 5 in Howell against Howell and Milford.