The Dragons football team isn’t the first Lake Orion squad to take their stuff to the playoffs.
Last year, it was the wrestlers, who are the Oakland Activities Association Division I defending champs and made it to the state quarterfinals in Battle Creek.
But according to Coach Doug Kline, the football team’s run at the finals, while something he is proud of, has a lot of his wrestlers not in the right kind of shape yet.
‘They’re in football shape,? he said. ‘They’re not in wrestling shape.?
With four wrestlers also on the football team, including standout Evan Gros, Kline said the loss to Oxford at their first meet on Dec. 3 went fantastic considering the guys didn’t get much time off to rest.
In fact, Kline was proud that the 31-25 score was so close.
‘We took them right down to the wire,? he said.
Doug Mack, who is out for the beginning of the season, left a void on the team, according to Kline.
But Kline was still happy with the team’s performance.
‘I was very proud of the overall effort,? he said.
A few days later, at the 12th Annual Dragon Invitational at Lake Orion High School, the Dragons finished second with 215.
Hartland finished first with 261 at the day-long wrestling event.
At third was Rochester Adams, fourth was Holt, fifth was Holly, sixth was Yale, seventh was Plymouth Salem, eighth was Monroe, ninth was Port Huron Northern and tenth was South Lyon.
Matches won by Lake Orion’s Curtis DeGeorge and Layne Upcott were instrumental in reaching the 215 to place second.
‘I was extremely pleased with the kids,? Kline said. Football players like Gros and A.J. Fligger made it to the finals despite the short preparation time.
Curtis, wrestling at 135, deserved praise as well, according to Kline.
‘He was tremendous,? Kline said.