BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The Wolves returned from holiday break to post two wins in the OAA Red on January 5.
“It’s going to be a tight race,” said Clarkston Varsity Wrestling Head Coach Brian Gibbs about the league going into the new year.
“Lake Orion, is always up there. Stoney Creek has some good individuals on that team, some fire power,” Gibbs said. “It’s a very balanced league this year. It’s going to be a fight for every dual. We have been in the fight for winning the league every year and it’s the same this year. We host Oxford at home for our senior night that will be a tight dual. Oxford obviously has a tough team, they won the county meet.”
Clarkston defeated Stoney Creek, 45-21, and host Lake Orion, 43-28.
Ethan Lefevre opened the meet against Stoney Creek with a pin against Luke Welch in the 152-pound weight class, 3:44.
Four more wrestlers won their matches with pins with Evan Holler (285) against Evan Depp, 48 seconds; Brady Vogt (125) against Nick Frazzitta, 4:59; Augusta Anderson (130) over David Kearney, 36 seconds; and Andrew Mazo (140) over George DeBucce, 3:28.
Archer Anderson (103) had a technical fall over Augustus Chung, 15-0.
Cayden Strong (145) had a 18-5 major decision over Luke Braun. Andrew Zarzycki (160) won his match over Jake Schuman, 13-12; and Brock Trevino (189) won his match over Adam Bazzi, 5-4.
The Wolves also opened their meet against Lake Orion with a win as Maxim Brown had a 14-7 win over Payton McIntyre in the 145-pound weight class.
They won the next two matches as Strong (152) had a 9-1 major decision and Zarzycki (160) took his match with a 7-4 decision over Micah Wellbaum.
Also posting wins were Vogt (119) with a pin over Luke Brown, 1:04; Mazo (140) with a pin over Cavan McIntyre, 4:45; Preston Lefevre (103) with a pin over Nolan Rhode, 1:35; and Trevino (189) with a 11-5 win over Casey Robertson.
Trent Geiger (215) and Archer Anderson (112) won by voids.
Clarkston competed in the Northwest Duals on Saturday, going 3-1 for the day.
They defeated Brighton B-team, 53-26; Jackson Northwest, 39-36 and Hanover, 61-12. They lost to Paw Paw, 42-39.
Before heading into the holidays, the Wolves hosted the Oakland County Championships, Dec. 17-18. They finished in sixth place with 148.5 points and Oxford won the county with 211.5 points.
“We did well,” said Gibbs. “Some highs and some lows. We did not send a full line up in so we knew it would be tough to come out with a county title. Definitely impressed with some guys and definitely some got some exposure time and a little competition. We noticed some areas we need to work on. overall the team did well.”
He added with the Oakland County meet being one of the biggest tournaments it was a good eye opener.
“It helps us evaluate what we need to work early in the season. We went out and we fought. We were after points and not hanging back – that’s the biggest thing is making sure everyone is going after it and trying to score points,” Gibbs said.
Six wrestlers finished in the top eight.
Cayden Strong (145) and Brock Trevino (171) finished in second place.
“Cayden had a lot of improvement from last year,” Gibbs said. “He’s had two tournaments this year and two final appearances losing to a state finalist and state placer in those two matches. His only two losses in the season. He has shown some really good improvement.”
Gibbs added Trevino had a good tournament.
“He was out all last year with an injury so his first two tournaments back he had a title at Howell and finals in the county tournament,” Gibbs said. “He’s going to be a guy to look out for just to make strides because he’s just knocking the rust off right now. He’s getting back to the form he used to be. He’s the guy to be looking out for.”
Archer Anderson (103) finished in third place.
“Archer took third in a tough bracket. He’s a freshman so he’s going to make those young mistakes but we can learn from it,” Gibbs said.
Ryan Rector (140) finished fourth place, Brady Vogt (119), fifth place; and Trent Geiger (189), seventh place.
“Brady had best county tournament to date. I think a few tweaks in his game and he’s going to be a guy looking to make a good post season run,” said Gibbs. “Trent placed in his first county tournament. I am so proud of him get some wins under his belt in the county tournament going into break with a good momentum.”
Gibbs added the team is young this season with 15 freshmen and two seniors.
“We’re young but the thing is with being young you don’t know what you are going to get,” he said. “From what I have seen we are going out there and we are fighting and going after points. We aren’t sitting back. I see a lot of fight and a lot of promise. I think we are going to continue to grow. I am excited about what we are going to be as long as they keep putting in the work and getting better I think we are going to have a strong team.”
The Wolves host their annual Clarkston Duals this Saturday.
“We are looking forward to it,” Gibbs said. “It will feature four top ten Division 1 teams as well as two top ten Division 2 teams. It will be a good day for competition. It’s nice we can have that in our gym.”

  Clarkston Varsity Wrestling, Wrestling