Harrison Township

Turning it up

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Staff Writer

Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse grapplers looking for more

HARRISON TOWNSHIP — Despite winning the 2006-‘07 Macomb Area Conference Red Division dual-meet title, no one is talking about the Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrestling team.

Even though every wrestler in coach Keith Weiand’s lineup has been with him for at least three seasons, the Lancers are still something of an afterthought in a crowded league that boasts 2007-‘08 Macomb County champion Romeo High (194 points), third-place Utica Ford II (174) and fifth-place Roseville High (164.5).

“Rankings are what people do when they’re bored,” Weiand said of preseason predictions Dec. 13 at L’Anse Creuse.

“We know that Roseville, Romeo and Ford are going to be very tough teams this year, but that’s what we like about being in the Red. It gets you ready for the best in the state.”

The Lancers took home a sixth-place finish with 146.5 points in the county meet, which was held Dec. 15 at Fair Haven Anchor Bay.

Sophomore Josh Batkins won the county title at 160 pounds, and junior Cameron Amateis (runner-up at 119), senior Jarrett Lintz (runner-up at 215), senior Frank Jiovani (third at 145) and senior Mike Greenfelder (fifth at 152) also scored for L’Anse Creuse.

“Depth is the key when you’re building a consistent winner, “ Weiand said of his team’s strength. “When you’ve got depth, and a lot of really good wrestlers, you can chase people.

“When you have kids who can pin another team’s good wrestlers, you can really set your lineup.”

All the early season hype surrounding his opponents suits Weiand just fine.

After winning the dual-meet championship last year, Weiand has turned his team’s focus to the one title that has eluded them — a regional crown and a trip to the team state finals Feb. 29 in Battle Creek.

“Coach wants it, but we want it just as much, if not more,” Greenfelder said. “It’s nice having the (Red) trophy in our trophy case with our names, but we want more.” 

That spotlight on the postseason has given the Lancers a renewed focus, even though they are still more than two months from the finals.

“The first practice of the season felt like it was the middle of the year,” Jiovani said. “It was intense. Everyone is focused this year, and they’re really putting in the work.”

The road to Battle Creek has changed slightly for the Lancers.

No longer will they face Red rival Clinton Township Chippewa Valley in the first round. This year, they’ll square off with Red rival Roseville High in the Division 1 district at L’Anse Creuse.

“We’ve been wrestling Roseville for just as long as we’ve been wrestling Chippewa Valley,” Jiovani said. “We know they’re a good team, and we know how they wrestle. We know that we have to be at our best to beat them in the regular season and districts.”

The Lancers kick off the defense of their dual-meet title when they host Ford II at 5 p.m. Jan. 3.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1029.