By Wendi Reardon Price
Clarkston News Sports Writer
DES MOINES, IOWA — Archer Anderson took down the competition to earn first place at the 2023 Brian Keck Memorial Preseason Nationals & Boys National Recruiting Showcase, Oct. 26-29.
Anderson, a junior at Clarkston High School, won the championship match with a 9-2 decision over Kalani Khiev in the 120-pound weight class in the 11th-12th boys division.
“I thought I wrestled good,” he shared about the entire tournament. “There were kids from all over the country so it was pretty cool to see new kids. It was difficult.”
Competition at the tournament was from all over the nation. Many wrestlers had either qualified for their state finals or placed at their state final.
“I wrestled a state champion in the semifinal match,” Anderson said about the fall over Leland Camp from Georgia. “It was difficult a little bit, but I got through it. I wrestled well. I broke him pretty early in the match. It’s a nice boost for my rankings.”
He shared he went in and did what he needed to do but what helped what believing in himself and staying focused.
Anderson started practicing with the Clarkston Varsity Wrestling team on Nov. 13. He shared the tournament helped prepare him for this winter season with the Wolves.
“It gets me ready for the season and ready to come up swinging,” he said. “We have Davison ranked ahead of us this year and we have them in the first dual. So come out swinging and knock out Davison.”
One of his team goals for his junior year to win the state finals.
“We wrestle a lot of good guys and I hope we can make it to states because we didn’t last year,” he said. “Coach is getting us hyped up for states.”
Personal goals include winning the Medina Invitational in Ohio, Dec. 28-29; and the MHSAA Division 1 Wrestling Individual State Championship, March 1-2.
Anderson has competed in the individual state tournament twice, finishing in second place his sophomore year in the 113-pound weight class and third place in his freshman year in the 103-pound weight class.
He wrestles all year but competing with Clarkston High School is more meaningful.
“I am always working on stuff in high school with friends and teammates,” he said, adding he wrestles five days a week during the winter school season.
The Clarkston Varsity Wrestling team kicks off the season with a quad against Brighton, Davison and Waterford Kettering at home on Wednesday, December 6, 5 p.m.