WRESTLING TEAM CAPSULES 2011-12
WRESTLING TEAM CAPSULES 2011-12
Below are the 2011-12 wrestling team capsules for schools located in the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area. Some schools opted not to submit information. Capsules compiled by Senior Editor Dan Stickradt. To submit information on a school, e-mail to dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or results@northoaklandsports.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: No information submitted by Pontiac, Holly, Rochester Adams, Ortonville Brandon, Troy and Troy Athens.
SCHOOL: Lake Orion
HEAD COACH: Cory Kuzinski, fourth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 22-13, 3-4 OAA Red Division (fifth).
LEAGUE MEET: Sixth at OAA Red Division (69 points).
COUNTY: 12th (107 points).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Division 1 district finals to Rochester Adams.
KEY RETUNREES: David Moore, soph. (103, 20-26); Charlie Highlen (125, soph. 33-23; state qualifier); Cam Masters, sr. (130, 34-18); John Atwater, sr. (140, 27-17); Anthony Grupido, jr. (145, 7-20); Dan Deachin, sr. (152, 19-20);Ethan Gros, jr. (160, 31-19); John Yeglinski, jr. (189, 20-23); Mac Boyer, sr. (215, 15-20).
OTHER RETUNREES: Durham Basso, jr. (171, 12-11); Devon Fulcher, soph. (145, 11-14); Anthony Gerard, jr. (119, 2-5); Tye Krukowski, jr. (145, 1-5); Juan Leon, jr. (125, 13-8); Anton Letica, jr. (125, 24-20); Paul Scott, soph. (285, 8-11); Dan Sheridan, jr. (152, 5-7)
KEY NEWCOMERS: AJ Shepherd, fr. (103-112); Jordan Trevino, sr. (135);Justin Owens, fr.(119);
KEY LOSSES: Adam Gros (171, graduation; fourth in the state); Mitch Ladd (189, graduation, sixth in the state); Dom Arnold (152, graduation, state qualifier).
NOTABLES: Lake Orion is always a sound tam, having reached the Final Four in Division 1 in 2008. But the Dragons might actually enjoy more success outside of the league as compared to inside the league, as Oxford and Rochester should be amongst the state’s best teams, plus Clarkston capable of making a long run. The Dragons do have a couple of individuals who could shine at larger tournaments and eventually reach the state finals. Overall, Lake Orion is not a top-10 team in the state, but definitely no slouch, either.
SCHOOL: Pontiac Notre Dame Prep
HEAD COACH: Dan Sabin, second season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 1-23, 0-9 CHSL
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Division 3 districts.
KEY RETUNREES: James Yanik, sr. (171, 17-9, CHSL champ); Michael Cowdin, soph. (189, 3-14).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Kyler Kirk, fr. (145 (MYWA state qualifier); 11 first-year wrestlers will highlight the roster.
LOSSES: Lost four starters to graduation and a fifth that transferred out of state.
NOTABLES: With only 14 competitors and only two returning starters, the Fighting Irish won’t be entertaining any thoughts about winning championships along the way. This team should focus on individual improvement with the hopes the Irish will climb out of the cellar of the CHSL. Finishing a couple of rungs higher than in 2011 would be a significant leap for a program in a major rebuilding stage.
SCHOOL: Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest
HEAD COACH: Nathan Myers, first season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 0-0, 0-0 independent (team cancelled program early inn 2010-11 season due to only four wrestlers.
STATE TOURNAMENT: Did not compete.
KEY RETUNREES: No team last season.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Nate Rheinhold, sr. (145; regional qualifier two years ago); Mark Genwuch, jr. (160).
NOTABLES: Nathan Myers will try to resurrect a program that was cancelled at the start of last season due to only four athletes coming out for the team.this season the Crusaders will begin with 14 athletes and the hopes of setting the groundwork for a successful program in a few years.
SCHOOL: Rochester Stoney Creek.
HEAD COACH: Jeff Smart, sixth season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 19-8, 5-3 OAA White Division (third place in final standings).
LEAGUE MEET: Finished third at OAA White Division tournament (145.5 points).
COUNTY: 10th (114 points).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Division 1 district opener to Rochester.
KEY RETUNREES: Nick Gajdzik, sr. (state runner-up at 215; 50-4; wrestling at heavyweight this season); Serge Andreou, sr. (bumping down from 285 to 215 this season; state placer as junior); Kyle Noonan, soph. (112); Colton Skinner, soph. (119); Austin Denha, sr. (171); Jake Hazelton, jr. (135); Joe Walsh, sr. (160); Andres Morales, soph. (130); Jake Pankey, jr. (152); Drew Heathcote, sr. (160).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Casey Schlitts, soph. (125); Eric Boyle, soph. (135); Andrew Price, fr. (140); Trevor Wiesemann, jr. (145); Peter Price, soph. (189);Trevor Larson, soph. (119).
KEY LOSSES: Dom Waldorf (152, graduation); Keenan Moffitt, jr. (103, transferred out of state).
NOTABLES: The Cougars will have a program record 40 athletes on the team and 10 wrestlers that started matches last season, which should help them tangle with Farmington Harrison and Farmington for supremacy in the OAA White Division. This is the 10th season of Stoney Creek wrestling, so the Cougars have come a long ways in the past decade and should be a top 10 team in the county for the second straight season.
SCHOOL: Oxford
HEAD COACH: Brandon Rank, first season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 34-4, 7-0 OAA Red Division (first).
LEAGUE MEET: First at OAA Red Division tournament (266 points).
COUNTY: Second at county meet (329 points).
STATE TOURNAMENT: District, regional champions (fourth straight); Captured Division 1 state title with 26-25 win over then-top-ranked Novi Detroit Catholic Central in state-title match.
KEY RETUNREES: Rocco Borg, sr. (49-12, third in state at 119; now at 140); Prescott Line, sr. (215, state champ; 44-3); Kyle Hill, sr. (125; fourth at state); Daniel Curtis, soph. (103); Noah Cantera, jr. (130); Liam Logan, jr. (171); Marty Giannola, jr. (160); Jacob Peasley, sr. ( 152; last season at 130); Matt Anger, sr. (189-215; currently injured; won’t be back until February; state qualifier, 34-19 last season).
OTHER RETURNEES: Zach Wood, jr. (285) season); Mike Willits, jr. (130).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Anthony Moore, fr. (112); Wesley Maskill, soph. (145); Grant Krause, fr. (189).
KEY LOSSES: Dylan Smith (103; recorded pin that gave Oxford the state title last season; sixth at state); Matt Frisch (145, 50-3, state champion;206-21 career record); Ben Ralston (160, 5-2, state champion); Keegan Cantera (seventh at state at 112); Mike Thomas (135, seventh at state); Dakota Peasley (152); Nick McMaster (285); Mike Baggett (152).
NOTABLES: The area’s top program in the past decade, Oxford has finished either first or second in the league every year in the past decade; last year moved from FML to OAA-Red and still won the league. The wildcats have reached Battle Creek and the elite Eight each of the past four years and also reached the final four each of those years as well. There are seven wrestlers who were regular starters last season back, plus five others who saw substantial time on the varsity last season.
SCHOOL: Rochester
HEAD COACH: Frank Lafferty, seventh season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 17-7, 6-1 OAA Red Division (second).
LEAGUE TOURNAMENT: Second at OAA Red Division tournament (168.5 points).
COUNTY: Fifth at county tournament (159 points).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Division 1 district finals to Romeo (33-32).
KEY RETUNREES: Kaelen Richards, jr. (up to 135 this season; third at 125 last season; 55-3); Josh Wood, jr. (119; two-time state runner-up; competed at 112 last season); Cody Devoe, sr. (171, sixth at 160 last season); Schwan Shadaia, soph. (189); Justin Kim, jr. (103); Joey Gunther, jr. (130); Darren Witherspoon, sr.(160); Fabian Villalobos, jr. (285).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Dean Vettese, soph. (140, transfer from Auburn Hills Avondale; 45-9; finished sixth at D-2 state meet at 140); Matt Lippart, sr. (competed as diver on swim team the past three years; all-city wrestler in eighth grade); Aaron Morgan, soph. (145; wrestled JV last season); Seth Birchmeier, soph. (112); Tyler Dukart, soph. (125); Shane Shadaia, soph.(152); Cortez Williams, jr. (215); Luke Haynes, jr. (285).
KEY LOSSES: Marcel Johnson (215, state placer); Todd Pochovan (119); Matt Waszkiewicz (171); Jamison Joyce (189-215); Trevor Elliott (145); Ryan Jose (135-140).
NOTABLES: This could be Rochester’s best team to date, with eight starters back, plus several newcomers that will make an impact. The Falcons have never reached the Elite eight in Battle Creek, site of the state tournament each year, since the adoption of the team format in 1988.Is this the year that Rochester can finally get over the hump. Rochester could also contend with Oxford in the OAA-Red this season and be a major player in Oakland County.
SCHOOL: Clarkston
HEAD COACH: Derek Moskovic, first season as head coach.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 20-9, 6-2, OAA Red Division (third place).
LEAGUE TOURNAMENT: Third at OAA Red Division tournament (163.5 points).
COUNTY: Fourth at county (216 points).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Division 1 regional finals to Hartland (45-19).
KEY RETUNREES: Scott Devos, sr. (285, 44-15, fourth at state); Nick Vandermeer, jr. (eighth at state at 135; now at 152); Chris Calvano, jr. (160); Ethan Frick, sr. (215; state qualifier); Ethan Myers, jr. (215); Bret Foltz, soph.(103); Cameron Wilkie, soph. (119); Mike Cardinale, sr. (130); Tyler Slating, soph. (130); Kyle Broughton, jr. (145); Grant Ulrich, jr. (140).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Conner Ryan, jr. (112); Lucas Carroll, fr. (125); Jake Dionne, sr. (130); Austin Jacobs, jr. (145); Adam Myers, sr. (215); Greg Miller, soph. (103)
KEY LOSSES: Jeff Sloney, (130, four-time state placer, state runner-up in 2011); Matt Vandermeer (152, state champion); Ty Foltz (140); Mike Henige (fifth at state at 160); Mitchell Manns (215); Raymond Wilkie (112).
NOTABLES: Derek Moskovic is the third head coach in three seasons, but no newcomer to the program. He was an assistant for several years before taking a one-year hiatus last season. This season the Wolves are expected to be competitive, but must replace six starters and a pair of state finalists: realistically, this team is still a top-10 team in Oakland County and perhaps top-five in Oakland County, but should be the third best in the ever-tough OAA-Red behind Oxford and Rochester.
SCHOOL: Auburn Hills Avondale.
HEAD COACH: Raymond Went, 39th season.
LAST SEASON’S RECORD: 10-10, 2-5 OAA Red Division.
LEAGUE TOURNAMENT: Fifth at OAA Red Division tournament (89 points); finished tied for fifth overall in standings.
COUNTY MEET: Seventh (137 points).
STATE TOURNAMENT: Lost in Division 2 district finals to Holly.
KEY RETUNREES: Grant Sharkey, jr. (135-140); Jarrell Fields, sr. (152); Baldwin Liu, soph. (119); Jacob Blomberg, jr. (160); Kenwal Bal, jr. (285); Troy May, sr. (152); Matt Wilson, sr. (189); Chris Wilson , sr. (215-285).
KEY NEWCOMERS: Parker Stillfried, fr. (112); Adam Dignard, soph. (119); Jesse Mitchell, sr. (125); Ricardo Vasquez, soph. (130); Brock Mather, fr. (135); Dillon Brancheau, soph. (171);Cody Badgero, fr. (215).
KEY LOSSES: Victor Vettese (four-time state placer; 43-5, fourth at state at 135); Dean Vettese, soph. (moved to Rochester); Trevor Wright (119; state qualifier); Sam Trella (125); Kyle Reinhart (140); James McCoury (171);
NOTABLES: Avondale reached the Elite eight two years ago and fielded a quality team last season, although a district shuffling forced the Yellowjackets into the same district as Holly. This season, Avondale must replace half of its starting lineup and will compete with several freshmen and sophomores this season in an expected rebuilding season.
EDITOR’S NOTE: No information submitted by Pontiac, Holly, Rochester Adams, Ortonville Brandon, Troy and Troy Athens.
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