Grapplers overcome snow, but fall to Dragons

Junior Matt Deitz led grapplers as he defeated Hazel Park’s Ethan Bogaert to take first place during the Oakland County Wrestling meet.
Snow blanketed the area the night before the tournament and with nearly a foot covering the roads and classes being called off on Dec. 19, the tournament was delayed.
Instead of grapplers competing for two days in double eliminations at two different sites, the meet was one day at Oxford Middle School. The change meant there would be no double elimination, only one.
After a long day and narrowing down 42 teams in 14 weight classes, Lake Orion won the meet for the second year in a row by scoring 124.5.
The Wolves scored 100 points and placed in sixth behind Oxford, Novi Detroit Catholic Central, Holly and Rochester Adams.
The top finishers for the Wolves were Zak Roberson (103), Alex Popp (145) and Matt Vandermeer (160) placed in second for the Wolves.
Jeff Sloney took third place in the 112-pound weight class.
Sloan Hadsall (189) and Mike Richmond (285) held onto fifth and Ty Foltz (130) and Evan King (152) took seventh.
The boys return from winter break for the second half of the season to work on their goal to make the state finals.
They will begin with a dual meet on Jan. 7. They will compete against Troy-Athens and Troy at Lake Orion High School. The meet begins at 5 p.m.