If a trip to Battle Creek wasn’t enough, the Lake Orion wrestling squad solidified its place among the state’s elite with six placers at the individual finals last Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills, including the school’s second-ever state title winner.
Jake Varilek earned that distinction by beating Nick Kaczanowski, of Rochester, 1-0 in the day’s final Division 1 match at 152 pounds.
‘He has by far and away the most wins of anybody in Lake Orion history, and is the second state champion,? Coach Doug Kline noted, saying Varilek has cemented himself as the school’s best wrestler.
The finals win was Varilek’s sixth victory over Kaczanowski this season (accounting for all but two of his losses). It was also Varilek’s 60th win of the season and Dragon-record 203 career victory (he hit the 200-plateau in Thursday’s opening round).
‘He’s gotten better every time we’ve wrestled,? Varilek said of Kaczanowski. ‘He knows now how I wrestle. But I went in there to wrestle my match and I wasn’t coming out with a loss?
Varilek scored an escape point in the second period and held Kaczanowski’s valiant efforts off the board in the third.
‘Words can’t describe how I feel right now,? Varilek said. ‘I’m so overjoyed. This has been a goal of mine since I started as a freshman.?
The senior is headed to Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina on the school’s first wrestling scholarship, according to Kline.
‘This is picture perfect on how I wanted to go out,? Varilek said. ‘I wanted to make it to state and we did it as a team, and I wanted to win a state championship and that’s done. Now I can go relax.?
All of Varilek’s records could be in trouble next year, as 189-pound junior Evan Gros set a team record for wins in his first three seasons (145), and is bound to be motivated for 2008-09. Gros? surprising run came up just one point short in the state final against Royal Oak’s Raylen Davis.
Davis broke a 1-all tie with a take-down with 15 seconds left to go up 3-1. Gros earned an escape point but ran out of time in his attempt to get a take-down of his own.
It was essentially a ‘revenge run? for Gros on his way to the final, as he beat Bryant Craft (Clarkston), Nick Whitenburg (Bedford) and George Andary (East Detroit) to advance to the finals. All had beaten him earlier this season (Andary twice). Gros? only other loss, coming into the final, was against Davis at the Oakland County meet.
‘Every time we’ve wrestled each other that’s how it’s been,? Gros said of the tight, down-to-the-wire match with Davis.
Davis said he wanted to avoid an overtime session so he made his move in the closing seconds.
‘I tried as hard as I could and he just beat me,? Gros said. ‘There’s not much else I could do. Sometimes it goes one way and sometimes it goes the other.?
Gros ends his season with a record of 55-6.
‘I’m very proud of how my season ended,? Gros said. ‘But I’ve got a lot to improve on for next year.?
Assistant Coach Cory Kuzinski, who started as a coach in the district when Varilek was in sixth grade, said the duo have a ‘healthy competitive atmosphere? when it comes to besting each other in the record books.
‘A lot of those records and things that I’ve accomplished are all because of my teammates and my coaches,? Gros said. ‘I appreciate all that they’ve done for me.?
In action earlier in the day on Saturday, the Dragons saw Joe Graffeo place fifth at 160 pounds, finishing his senior season with 56 victories.
A.J. Pratt placed sixth at 135, Doug Mack took seventh at 119 and Justin Ruddy finished in eighth at 130.
Pratt finishes his senior season with a 38-6 record. Senior Jeremy Peshl (140) qualified for states and finished at 38-24.
‘I’m so proud of all of them,? Kline said. ‘This is a fitting end to a fantastic season. I’m speechless as to what this season has been. There were so many expectations for this team and that’s the gratifying thing for a coach, to see them set those goals and then achieve them.?