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Dubs only for wrestling team Team earns MAC Blue title, Davis wins Coach of the Year CAMERON SMALE
MANAGING EDITOR
Ending the season with an impressive undefeated record, the Utica wrestling team celebrates one of their most outstanding years. While seniors are finished with their wrestling careers, junior high school students are just beginning theirs. The team has been waiting for a MAC Blue win for a long time and all their conditioning had paid off. The Utica wrestlers have stated that their team was very “tight knit” and that they got along throughout their season. “We really felt like a tight community, we supported each other and helped each other learn,” sophomore Antonio Capelj said. “Training is painful, it consists of stretching, running, lifting and sparing. I look forward to improving my skills and keep working hard at wrestling.” The wrestling team is one of the teams that had a community all on it’s own, as described by the athletes who participate in it. When the team isn’t at practice, they follow diet plans and recruit during the off season. “Being on the team is the best part about wrestling,” junior Hunter Ali said, “we all get along and work hard to make each other better. Next year I’m looking forward to go after the MAC Blue Championship again. Winning it this year was an amazing experience for the team.” For these athletes, their wrestling careers start in junior high. The Utica wrestling coach recruits athletes from a very young age and conditions them into wrestling champions. The returning wrestlers will prepare for next year with various
diets which will insure that they stay in their designated weight classes. They will also prepare by doing other sports as well as doing weight training. “Coach is very enthusiastic,” Capelj said. “He wants to make sure the job is done right and doesn’t leave anyone to falter behind.” Coach Davis was awarded the title of MAC Blue Wrestling Coach of the Year due to his outstanding methods and strategies. “I’m proud of how all the guys wrestled this year. At no point can I say we were not wrestling to our ability,” Davis said. “I’m very proud of all the hard work that the team has been putting into this season.” Although the team won the MAC Blue championship, they did lose the team district final. Davis has always been a big believer of his athletes doing the best that they can, and that’s what satisfies him. “We lost a hard fought battle to Utica Ford in our team district final. I am super proud to be the coach of these guys. They brought their game that evening,” Davis said. “Even though I know they are disappointed, I hope they don’t let it linger because they should be proud of their performance. My only hope is that they use this as fuel to continue to improve.” Overall the wrestling team has agreed that this has been one of their best seasons yet. They have accomplished many goals, and lots of the athletes have achieved their personal goals. Lots of the athletes were even awarded medals for their abilities. Although the Michigan schools have been shut down for the rest of the year, some wrestlers still train from in their homes for next season.
Prior to winning his first match of the county tournament, the referee raises junior Hunter Ali’s hand toward the crowd. “I was really excited because it was a big tournament,” Ali said. “Winning the first match meant I could continue to the next day.” Ali’s victory allowed him to compete in the next day of wrestling, helping his team earn fifteenth place out of 36 teams. clarissa rose photo
Chieftain swimmers make waves at county meet CHARLES BORUS
EDITOR
Senior captain Dominic Lount is ready to start the 50 Freestyle.
Senior captain Cameron Smale earned a medal in the 500 Freestyle. LIFETOUCH PHOTOS
It’s the feeling of water encasing senior Dominic Lount that propels him to the opposite side of the pool. His adrenaline kicks in as soon as he touches the cold water. “I am so proud of my team and I am so lucky to have been able to play this sport three years of high school,” Lount said. “It’s incredibly rewarding to be one of the captains of a team as dedicated to this sport.” Following a busy swim and dive season for the team, their time in the water was not over yet. Their work in and sometimes outside of the pool pushed captain Cameron Smale and Lount to qualify for counties in swimming. To qualify, Smale posted a time 5:49 in the 500 yard freestyle, and Lount posted a time of 24.1 seconds in the 50 yard freestyle. Smale went on to earn a medal at the county meet. Sophomore Lorenzo Weihermuller and senior Joshua Essenmacher qualified for counties in diving, and Essenmacher went on to earn a medal. “I wasn’t expecting to qualify,” Smale said. “To qualify, it would require me to drop over 30 seconds off my previous time. I felt both confused and excited at the same time when I found out I qualified.” Smale has been swimming for Utica since his freshman year, qualifying for counties in previous years in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay. “Any time you can qualify for the county meet is an excellent accomplishment,” coach Joe Michol said. “Only the top twenty-four swimmers out of the entire county qualify for each swim event. It is always each swimmer’s individual and team aspirations to qualify for the county meet, as it is a stepping-stone toward the state meet.”
The counties meet was held at L’Anse Cruse High School on Feb. 8. While Utica showed a valiant effort, Dakota High School came out victorious with 397 points, while Utica had 13 points. “Especially in events like these, it is extremely important for teams to come together and support each other,” senior Andrew Garrison said. “ We cheer for each other and congratulate our teammates when they finish. It’s a tradition we have on the team, and it really brings us all together.” Both in and out of the pool, the Chieftain swimmers are one team. Despite some of them not swimming in the counties meet, their support did not stop. “The whole team stands at the end of the pool cheering them on,” senior captain Ryan Fromm said. “It’s nice because they can see us and it motivates them to not give up. It’s definitely incredibly rewarding to see your teammates finish an event-successful or not.” Now that both Lount and Smale are seniors, they will miss swimming for Utica High School. “As one of the only guys to join the team as a freshman,” Smale said, “I was able to help build the team into a phenomenal group of men. It was a great experience to build friendships and watch the younger guys on the team choose their favorite events. Also, Coach Joe is one of the greatest coaches I’ve ever had, and I’ll miss practicing with him every day.” Since Smale was a freshman when starting, and Lount was a sophomore, both have only improved. While they did have days where giving up would have been the easier way out, they continued onwards and were able to see the fruits of their labor. “It’s definitely bittersweet leaving the pool,” Lount said. “However, I, wouldn’t trade that experience for the world.”
