St. Clair Shores

Warren Lincoln wrestling team captures second straight district title

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Sean Work The Warren Lincoln wrestling team won its third straight league title this season. Over that span, the Abes have a 20-1 record in league matches. Pictured is Lincoln’s Khannor Kaercher, right, and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore’s Stephan Orlando during a MHSAA Division 2 district-final match Feb. 7 at Lake Shore Photo by Sean Work The Warren Lincoln wrestling team won its third straight league title this season. Over that span, the Abes have a 20-1 record in league matches. Pictured is Lincoln’s Khannor Kaercher, right, and St. Clair Shores Lake Shore’s Stephan Orlando during a MHSAA Division 2 district-final match Feb. 7 at Lake Shore

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Warren Lincoln wrestling coach Vito Delia said he knew he had a strong team from the outset of the season.

His wrestlers continue to prove him right, as the Abes downed St. Clair Shores Lakeview 63-14 to win their second straight Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 district title.

The match took place Feb. 7 at Lake Shore.

The victory adds to a season in which the Abes won the Macomb Area Conference White Division title.

"I'm very pleased with the job they've done this year," said Delia, whose team moves to 26-1 with the win. "The guys have really taken to going out and getting the job done."

Lincoln moves on to face the winner of a Hazel Park district at 5 p.m. Feb. 13 at Madison Heights Lamphere.

The Abes took a 6-4 lead after Robert Lord scored a pin 1:38 into the first round of the first match. Lincoln would never trail again in the meet, notching five more pins and culminating with Robert LeFrance scoring a pin with 27 seconds left in the first round of his match.

The Abes also received 30 points from voids, as Lake Shore didn't field wrestlers in five weight classes.

The Shorians were looking for their first district title since 2004.

"I'm impressed with how the guys wrestled," Shorians coach Steven Conway said. "A lot of guys started out with us and didn't make it to this point. I'd rather go out there with 10 guys who want to be here than 30 who don't."

In advancing to the district final, Lincoln knocked off Warren Woods Tower 39-28, while Lake Shore beat Center Line 42-24.

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