Photo by Erin Sanchez Roseville High senior Mike Petrone, left, locks up junior Chris Nash at practice Nov. 26. The Panthers are hoping to make some noise in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division.

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

With a roster full of talented veteran wrestlers, Roseville High coach Major Mickens admits 2008-09 could be a special season for the Panthers.

Led by seniors Robert Nash, Mike Petrone and Shawndell Madison, the Panthers feel a sense of urgency to capitalize on their promise.

“Most guys are looking at this as ‘the year,’” Mickens said. “It’s do or die. My team believes they’re good, but we haven’t done or won anything yet.”

The Panthers’ roster boasts the kind of talent that could make them formidable in tournaments and dual meets, but with several of their top grapplers heading into the season at similar weights, Mickens is still waiting to see how his lineup will shake out.

“If you have guys come in at the same weight, that’s not good,” Mickens said Nov. 26 before his team had its alpha weigh-in.

“You have to spread them out in the lineup, so there are some guys who are going to have to make sacrifices.”

While Mickens’ dual-meet roster is packed with grapplers that boast multiple years of experience, keeping his team focused through the November to March wrestling season is still a primary concern.

“I’ve always had the belief, it doesn’t matter what you do in the regular season,” Mickens said. “I think that backfired on us a little last year.

“Our frame of mind never shifted heading into districts, and (Harrison Township) L’Anse Creuse may have been a little more prepared than we were. The kids need to always have winning on their minds.”

While Mickens would have liked to see his team more focused and successful when they fell to the Lancers in their Division 1 district to end 2007-08, he believes that will be a driving force this year.

“Last year helps, because if we had went to states, I don’t know how hungry we would be now,” Mickens said. “Last year was the first group of seniors since the 1990s that didn’t go (to Battle Creek).”

The Panthers’ Class of ‘09 hopes to start a new string of trips to the team finals, and several of them expect to compete for individual titles, as well.

“It amps your room up a little bit,” Mickens said of the atmosphere in the wrestling room.

“Petrone, Bobby Nash and Shawndell Madison all have one goal, to be in the state finals and win it. That comes from them, too. That’s not me telling them they have to win it. They want it.”

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