Seniors Chris Calvano, Adam Myers and Nick Vandermeer are heading to the Palace of Auburn Hills next week for the MHSAA Individual Finals.
Calvano finished as the champion in the 189-pound weight class at the MHSAA Individual Regionals at Saginaw-Heritage on Saturday for the Clarkston Varsity Wrestling team.
He won all three of his matches with pins over Terrance Thomas from Midland, Ryan Hill from Hartland, and Tay Pendleton from Carman-Ainsworth.
Myers and Vandermeer took third place, going 3-1 for the day.
Myers (215) beat Anthony Whyte from Saginaw Heritage twice with a fall 4:18 in the first match and a fall 2:48 in the second match. He also beat Chad Maks from Hartland in a 10-5 decision. He lost to Waterford Kettering’s Matt Okaiye in a 7-4 decision.
Vandermeer (152) beat Dmario Blue from Carman-Ainsworth with a fall at 2:30; Dazon Cole from Pontiac with a fall 2:25; and Davon Bay City Central in a major decision 16-0. He lost to Patrick Rooker in a 2-1 match.
Nate Vandermeer (112) and Jake Dionne (135) finished in regionals after two losses.
Brett Foltz (119), Cameron Wilkie (125) and Josh Cohoon (171) went 1-2 for the day. Foltz beat Farmington Hills Harrison Dan Allor in a 4-1 match. Wilkie beat Midland’s Zach Schneider in his first match, 8-6; and Cohoon beat Swartz Creek’s Robert Tucker with a fall in 2:30.
The team finished the season at the MHSAA Team Regional on Wednesday with a 37-30 loss to Hartland.
“It was a pretty disappointing loss,” said Coach Derek Moscovic. “We could have definitely competed a little bit better. I don’t think we competed to our potential.You have to give your hats off to Brighton they came out and wrestled us well and they won.”
He added seniors Calvano, Vandermeer, Myers and Luis Reyes (285) had a good night with pins. Vandermeer beat a returning state champion on the mat.
“A lot of our seniors stepped up,” Moscovic said. “I was extremely proud of them for the way they wrestled and going out as a senior.”
Mike Cardinale also had a big day and beat a wrestler he lost to in districts.
The loss will help the returning wrestlers during the off season as they look to next season.
“It leaves something hungry in the belly when these guys don’t finish the year before the way they hope and the way they expect it,” said Moscovic. “Hopefully it will motivate them to work hard in the off season and prepare for next year because nothing is guaranteed. You are only as good as your last performance if you are not willing to work for it and if you are not hungry for it. Not only as a senior but as a freshman.”
Hartland beat Brighton for the region championship, 43-24.
The MHSAA Individual Finals begin next Thursday for Calvano, Vandermeer and Myers.