Warren

Warren Woods Tower wrestling team returns solid grapplers

By Jason Carmel Davis
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques Staying healthy will be one of the keys to a successful season for the Warren Woods Tower wrestling team, according to coach Greg Mayer. Pictured are seniors Hunter Mayer, left, and Conner Pierce. Photo by Deb Jacques Staying healthy will be one of the keys to a successful season for the Warren Woods Tower wrestling team, according to coach Greg Mayer. Pictured are seniors Hunter Mayer, left, and Conner Pierce.

WARREN — Warren Woods Tower senior wrestler Hunter Mayer said the Titans’ loss in a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 district final left a bad taste in his mouth.

“It was pretty eye-opening,” said Mayer, who wrestles at anywhere from 130 to 140 pounds. “It gave us incentive to get better and do better this year.”

Mayer is one of 11 wrestlers back from last season, according to Tower coach, Greg Mayer, who has coached since the 1999-00 season. He added that he’ll carry 28 grapplers on the roster, and that his top lineup is pretty much set.

Greg Mayer said he has a lot of flexibility in his lineup, with competitors who can wrestle in a number of weight classes. The Tower coach said his team lacks depth in a couple of weight classes, but it shouldn’t lose any points via void.

“We’ve got a really good group of guys who are unselfish and who’ll wrestle where they’re needed,” said Greg Mayer, who guided Tower to a 14-12 record last season, including a 5-2 mark and second-place finish in the tough Macomb Area Conference Red Division.

“A lot of the guys, including all the returnees, were either full- or part-time varsity wrestlers last season, so I’m excited about what we have.”

Leading the way are Hunter Mayer, senior 152/160-pound grappler Connor Pierce, and senior 171-pounder Collin Trax — all of whom were part of Tower’s 2010-11 district title team.

“We’re all just trying to get better as the season goes along,” Pierce said. “We want to be the best team we can and make a run at the state finals.”

Greg Mayer said a playoff run is possible, but health and maintaining academic success will be key.

“We’re going to come up against some solid teams on a nightly basis,” Greg Mayer said. “We just have to take care of the things we can control and be prepared for the opportunities that present themselves.”

The Titans had not had a meet at press time and will hit the mat for the city of Warren Tournament at 9 a.m. Dec. 15 at Tower.

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