The Clarkston wrestling squad has only one stamp left to put on this season to make their ownership official ? a state championship.
The Wolves took steps in that direction both individually and as a team last week.
This past Saturday at Rochester, Clarkston had 10 wrestlers earn spots in the individual regional playoffs this Saturday at Holly.
Mike Maguire (119 pounds), Alex Popp (130), Frank Sade (135), Bryant Craft (160), Adam Lauzun (171) and Layne Upcott (215) all took first place at their weights. Colton Tweed (152), qualified taking third place, and Tommy Ellsworth (189) made the cut with second place. Heavyweight Steve Cooper (285) qualified for regionals with a second-place finish and Erik Butterfield’s fourth-place finish at 145 pounds makes him eligible for the next round.
Lauzun’s victory came in a 3-2 decision in quadruple overtime against Wayne Sanders, a county champion at 189 pounds who defeated Lauzun at 171 pounds in the dual meet season. The loss was Sanders? first this season in 47 matches.
‘Adam has had so many close matches that have showed him how to keep his composure and it paid off for him this time,? Clarkston coach Joe DeGain said.
DeGain said Sade, a mid-season transfer from northern Michigan, has not missed a step this year.
‘He’s been around wrestling a long time, so it didn’t take him long to adjust,? DeGain said.
‘He’s got a very threatening upper-body attack, it opens up a lot of his leg attacks.?
Jake Varilek of Lake Orion, a thorn in the Wolves sides this season, was the first-place winner at 152 pounds after winning both county and league championships this season.
Maguire, the county champion at 125 pounds this season and league champion at 119 last week, is quietly having a strong season.
‘He gets more and more focused with every tournament. He’s primed and ready for the final push. You can see it in his eyes, he’s focused and ready to go.?
The opening round of the state playoffs, the districts at Waterford Kettering on Feb. 15, looked like a mere formality for the Clarkston wrestling team.
After rolling through West Bloomfield in the regular season, the Lakers stood in the way of a district final berth for later that evening. The Wolves handled the Lakers 65-6 with pins from Zac Roberson (103), Maguire, Sade, Tyler Schneider (140), Craft, Lauzun and Upcott.
Clarkston moved on to meet the host Captains in the finals. The Wolves came away with a 49-10 win. Maguire, Popp, Sade and Ellsworth pinned for the Wolves.
Clarkston will compete in the team regionals on Wednesday in their home gym as host of the event. Clarkston faces Walled Lake Northern in the opening round while Lake Orion wrestles Davison on the other side of the gym.