Harrison Township

L’Anse Creuse wrestling team aiming for another district title

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrestling team is eyeing another district title to go with the 11 the Lancers have won since 1996. Pictured are Lancers wrestlers Peter Barone, left, and Ian Weldron. Photo by Patricia O’Blenes The Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrestling team is eyeing another district title to go with the 11 the Lancers have won since 1996. Pictured are Lancers wrestlers Peter Barone, left, and Ian Weldron.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP— Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse wrestling coach Keith Weiand said he’s excited about the season’s prospects, even though his squad is younger than most of the teams it will square off with this season.

“We’re young, but there’s a lot of talent there,” said Weiand, in his 15th year with L’Anse Creuse. “Sure, there’s a lot of youth on the roster, but we still have high expectations.”

Expectations are high because of the success the Lancers have sustained in recent years. Since 1996, L’Anse Creuse has won 11 Michigan High School Athletic Association district championships — the majority of which have come under Weiand’s guidance.

The Lancers went 30-9 last season on their way to another district title, before falling in regionals for the third straight year. L’Anse Creuse last won a regional title in 2008.

If the Lancers want that run to continue, grapplers in the lower and middle weight classes will have to carry the load while grapplers in the upper weight classes gain experience.

Wrestlers Weiand expects to lead the squad include junior 171-pounder Devan Richter, sophomore 103-pounder Brendan Hazelton, senior 152-pounder Eric John Dunlap, junior 152-pounder Peter Barone, senior 160-pounder Jamie Maier, and junior 145-pounder Ian Weldron.

“We’re young, but a lot of the guys on the team have been wrestling since seventh grade,” Richter said. “We’re looking at the regular season as being a way to get everybody peaking at the right time — the playoffs.”

Weldron said wrestling in the Macomb Area Conference Red Division helps prepare
him and his teammates for the grind of the postseason. L’Anse Creuse finished 4-3 in
league matches last season, but the tough bouts helped the Lancers, come playoff
time, according to Weldron.

“We’re more about district and regional titles than anything else,” said Weiand, who has compiled a 369-141-3 record with L’Anse Creuse. “We won the division last in 2007 but didn’t win a district title. I’d trade a league title for a district or regional title any day.”

Even with a young team, Weiand agrees with Richter that the Lancers can be dangerous, if they peak at the right time.

We feel that, by the end of the year, this team will be good enough to challenge for a league, district and regional title,” Weiand said.

L’Anse Creuse next hits the mat for a tri meet with Macomb L’Anse Creuse North and Warren Mott, set for 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at L’Anse Creuse.

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