Tradition is hard to break, and hopefully it won’t change soon. The Clarkston Wolves wrestling program has kept up a tradition of quality teams and outstanding individual wrestlers.
The Wolves sent eight wrestlers to the state finals in 2005, and four placed. The highest was then-senior Josh McAllister in the 171-pound weight class.
All of Clarkston’s returning state finalists have moved up in weight class. Senior Tommy Ellsworth is making the biggest climb, nearly 30 pounds, from 160-pound to 189-pounds. The Wolves also return Mike Maguire (125-pounds), Bryant Craft (160-pounds), Colton Tweed (152-pounds) and Adam Lauzen (171-pounds).
Clarkston, winner of five out of the past five Oakland Activities Association division I league championships, kicks off the season with a match against Detroit Catholic Central on Dec. 1. Their first meet at home is Dec. 15, playing host to the Oakland County wrestling meet.
The history of the program has set the bar high for the team.
‘The guys have real high expectations for themselves,? Clarkston coach Joe DeGain said.
‘A lot of the guys are elevating the expectations of their teammates. I expect the best out of them. They’re a very experienced team.
‘This will be the most mature team I’ve had here,? DeGain added.
DeGain, entering his fourth season at the helm is looking forward to matches against rival Lake Orion, state champion Davison, and state runners-up Hartland.
‘We’ll see quite a few teams who are some of the better teams in the state,? he said.
‘We’ll see good wrestlers.?