Grosse Pointe Woods

Grosse Pointe North wrestling team progresses despite holes in roster

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Grosse Pointe North 119-pound grappler Peter Salazar is the lone senior on the squad. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes Grosse Pointe North 119-pound grappler Peter Salazar is the lone senior on the squad.

GROSSE POINTE — At first glance, a coach could be disappointed in a team with a 3-12-1 mark.

Grosse Pointe North wrestling coach Eric Julien, though, has more of a long-term view and understands his team’s struggles.

“The problem this year is only about half the guys have any varsity experience,” said Julien, in his first year with the Norseman after spending five years as an assistant at Fraser High.

Another issue is that the “half” Julien touched on equals five. North’s roster is made up of just 10 grapplers. Fourteen wrestlers are needed to fill a lineup completely. Being without four wrestlers — in the 103, 189, 215 and heavyweight classes — puts the Norsemen behind the eight ball before the first match at any given meet, as a team forfeits six points for each wrestler it’s down.

“So for us to pull out a victory or even get back to a tie shows you how hard our guys work every day,” said Julien, whose team is 0-5-1 in the Macomb Area Conference White Division.

“It also shows you the guys we have are pretty good and can make some noise in the postseason.”

Julien said he believes a number of his grapplers have a shot at individual district, regional and state titles. Among the wrestlers Julien touted are senior 119-pounder Patrick Salazar, 140-pound junior Paul Menth, sophomore 145-pounder Andrew Lock and freshman 152-pounder Mike Bowden.

“These guys and others have shown a lot of fight this year,” Julien said. “Our team has fought hard, and that’s without having a lot of people come out for the team. I think we’d challenge a lot of teams if we had a full roster.”

Salazar, the lone senior on the squad, said he likes the fight in this year’s squad, too. He added it’s a little weird being the team’s elder statesman.

The Norseman graduated six wrestlers last year, according to Julien. The team’s lone 2010-11 state finals qualifier moved out of the district, he added.

“This is probably the most guys we’ve had on the team since my freshman year,” Salazar said. “I try to set a good example for everybody, but I do wish there were some other seniors on the team.

“I started out with a lot of guys, but they didn’t stay on the team. It’ll be important in the future for us to get guys who’ll stay on the team.”

North next hits the mat for its team district meet Feb. 9 at Grosse Pointe South. The Norsemen square of with South and the University of Detroit Jesuit.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jason Carmel Davis at jdavis@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1107.