By Dan Robelen / WLD
With six seniors, including a returning state qualifier, the Dexter wrestling team is poised for a great season – and so far, so good. In fact, so far, so really good.
Despite moving up to Division 1, the team has started strong. They have experience on the roster and talent on the mat and both should help go along way in pinning down one of the better Dexter teams in years. The Dreadnaughts will find out more about themselves this week. They have a busy schedule during the first week back to school after the holidays.
“I have really high hopes for this team,” says head coach Matt Chisolm. “It’s the best team I’ve seen in Dexter in a long time.”
The Dreadnaughts have competed in two tournaments so far: one team tournament and one individual tournament. In the individual tournament, two wrestlers took home gold in their varsity weight classes. The future looks promising too – six of the junior varsity wrestlers also won their pools.
“I think having the six seniors is a very big thing for us,” Chisolm said. “Along with the strong underclassmen that we have, it’s a combination of leadership from the upperclassmen and the toughness of the underclassmen.”
Assistant Coach Ryan Clements added about the quality of the underclassmen, “We just announced one of them as a captain.”
In the team tournament, “Pinckney’s Season’s Beatings,” Dexter took third place overall in a competitive field. Their only loss was by a single match. Seniors Dylan Lorincz, Mark Young and Ethan Cameron, and freshman Daniel Delduca went unbeaten through the tournament, notching records of 4-0 or 5-0. The Dreadnaughts’ emphasis on conditioning allowed them to set the tone and push the pace through the whole tournament.
In an early season tri-meet, Dexter convincingly outscored Ann Arbor Huron and Skyline.
Young and Lorincz are both undefeated so far this season, and every wrestler on the team already has at least one win.
The next two competitions for the Dreadnaughts are at home. This Wednesday night is senior night, with SEC duel-matches against Adrian and Pinckney. Introduction of the seniors should start around 5:15 p.m. The meet begins at 5:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Dexter hosts the always popular Al Ritt Invitational, an annual team tournament. Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. Tickets for each event are $5, with students getting in for $3 on Wednesday.
COVER PHOTO: Jacob Joyce breaks down his opponent. Photo by Dan Robelen
