Grapplers hunting for state championship

Front Row: (sitting left to right) Gabe Kerin, Carson Lewis, Trevor Edwards, Sam Murray, Trent Myre, Connor Finnerty, Garrett Tyrrell, Austin West, Joe Floyd, Curtis Bartz, Keeghan Leone, Devin Trevino, Nathan Call. Second Row: (kneeling, left to right) Vinny Vackaro, Nolan Snyder, Joe Vackaro, Caleb Tabert, Trevor Bonk, Ryan Miller, Campbell Coker, Dean Klingensmith, Thomas Wandrie, Ethan Moll, Aaron Hughes, Christian Lebich. Third Row: (standing, left to right): Coach Brandon Rank, Stephen Kardos, Joseph Cabaniss, Sergio Borg, Adam Chisolm, Garritt Mahoney, Andrew Marshall, Louis Hollingsworth, Shane Moore, Liam Hillary, Joe Good, Coach Craig Trombley. Fourth Row: (standing, left to right): Head Coach Paul McDevitt, Bobby Smith, Austin Schlicht, Peter Veltigian, Austin Penzien, Dallas Winkelman, Ethan Brennan, Ryan Motala, Jacob Call, Byron Schlickenmeyer, Coach Alan Wilfong. Back Row: (on chairs, left to right) Rex Mayette, Evan Covert, Jake Stonier, Carson Petoskey, Daltan Myers, Matthew Curtis, Cooper Spring, Cole Moore.
Front Row: (sitting left to right) Gabe Kerin, Carson Lewis, Trevor Edwards, Sam Murray, Trent Myre, Connor Finnerty, Garrett Tyrrell, Austin West, Joe Floyd, Curtis Bartz, Keeghan Leone, Devin Trevino, Nathan Call. Second Row: (kneeling, left to right) Vinny Vackaro, Nolan Snyder, Joe Vackaro, Caleb Tabert, Trevor Bonk, Ryan Miller, Campbell Coker, Dean Klingensmith, Thomas Wandrie, Ethan Moll, Aaron Hughes, Christian Lebich. Third Row: (standing, left to right): Coach Brandon Rank, Stephen Kardos, Joseph Cabaniss, Sergio Borg, Adam Chisolm, Garritt Mahoney, Andrew Marshall, Louis Hollingsworth, Shane Moore, Liam Hillary, Joe Good, Coach Craig Trombley. Fourth Row: (standing, left to right): Head Coach Paul McDevitt, Bobby Smith, Austin Schlicht, Peter Veltigian, Austin Penzien, Dallas Winkelman, Ethan Brennan, Ryan Motala, Jacob Call, Byron Schlickenmeyer, Coach Alan Wilfong. Back Row: (on chairs, left to right) Rex Mayette, Evan Covert, Jake Stonier, Carson Petoskey, Daltan Myers, Matthew Curtis, Cooper Spring, Cole Moore.

Backed by the man-power of 60 athletes, with 35 of those returning, the Wildcat wrestlers have high hopes.

“Our realistic goal is to win the Division 1 state championship this season. We are definitely one of the handful of teams in the hunt,” said Head Coach Paul McDevitt.

The Wildcats have had a successful month so far, bringing them closer to achieving their goal.

On Jan. 4 the team took first place at a Quad held at Lake Orion. At a Jan. 11 double dual held at home, the team also defeated Clarkston by a score of 35-30.

While the team lost two all-state seniors from last year’s team, McDevitt said the team has 11 of 14 returning starters from last year’s state semi-finalist team, giving them an overall edge.

“Our biggest strength will be our depth… Our sophomores this year are a large and talented class, as are our seniors. Every weight class will have a talented, experienced wrestler in it. Our back-ups are pretty solid too so we can absorb injuries better than a lot of other teams,” said McDevitt.

Though the team is strong, McDevitt added that there is always room for improvement.

“We are focusing on improving in all facets of the sport. Our technique on our feet, on bottom and on top should improve as the year progresses. We also need to improve our toughness, strength and endurance,” said McDevitt.

McDevitt said seniors Jacob Call, Garrett Tyrrell, Vinny Vackaro, Ethan Moll, Dallas Winkelman, Byron Schlickenmeyer and Campbell Coker all serve as “solid contributors” to the team this year.

Whether or not the team achieves their goal of seizing a state title, McDevitt said he’s expecting a great season from the team overall.

“I am so excited for this season! Not only am I confident that we will compete for a state championship, but I am really looking forward to spending this season with these seniors. They have been such a great group to coach all the way through. Many of them have been starters all four years so we have become like a family,” he said.

The team currently stands 3-0-1 overall.

On Jan. 18, the Wildcats will go up against Seaholm High School (2436 West Lincoln) in Birmingham at 5:30 p.m.

 

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