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2007-08 Season Preview by Weight Class

125 pounds
     The starting position at the lightest weight class should be a tight battle between several talented competitors, including junior two-time letterwinner Kyle Labrecque (Battle Creek/Lakeview). A season ago, he and former state champion Blair Mellish (Silverwood/North Branch) combined for a record of 36-16, as Labrecque placed third at the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional. Another strong contender in the mix at 125 pounds will be freshman state champion Ibrahim Abdulla (Dearborn/Fordson).

133 pounds
     Sophomore Blake Gardner (Mount Morris) is the returning starter at 133 pounds. A year ago, he won 22 matches as a freshman for the Comets. The challenge to hold the starting position will be strong, however, with junior David Szokola (Marysville), who is returning from injury, along with sophomore Justin Lewis (Middleville/Thornapple Kellogg) and hard-working freshman state-placer Adam Wilson (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) sure to be a factor.

141 pounds
     Junior Rob Yahrmarkt (Sparta) brings two varsity letters and a 21-win sophomore season to challenge for the starting role again. His competition for the job will come from several strong freshmen, led by four-time Division 1 state-placer Jesse Bain (Hartland) and possibly from state champion Ben Hitchcock (New Lothrop/Montrose), who is undecided between 141 and 149 pounds. Freshmen Jon Pelham (Pittsford) and Colby Votava (Albion) will also provide depth at 141.

149 pounds
      After posting several big wins during the season, junior Nick Wolf (Charlotte/Olivet) was voted as the squad’s most improved wrestler in 2006-07. He is back to battle for the starting job, but will be fiercely challenged by several athletes, perhaps most notably freshman and three-time state champion Vince Lahar (Clio) and Hitchcock. Others seeking time in the lineup at 149 will be sophomores Matt McNeil (Royal Oak/Kimball) and Nick Leon (Sterling Heights/Henry Ford II) and freshman state-placer Nate Beilby (Climax/Climax-Scotts).

157 pounds
     Jason Brew (Sparta) has been one of the top competitors in Division III for the past two seasons at 149 and 157 pounds. In 2006-07, he experienced a frustrating season that often saw him wrestle at 165 pounds for team purposes and ultimately ended prematurely with a devastating ACL injury. Fully recovered, Brew has dropped back to 157 pounds and is poised for a breakout year. Joining him at 157 will be freshmen state-placer Scott Kulman (Capac) and James Zerebiny (Westland/John Glenn).

165 pounds
     As the lone projected senior starter for the Comets, Daron Cruickshank (Westland/John Glenn) will return to the weight class where he was a junior college national runner-up two seasons ago at Muskegon Community College. In 2006-07, he competed for the Comets at 184 pounds, winning 25 matches en route to winning the regional title and competing at the NCAA Division III National Championships. Still, for both personal and team goals, Cruickshank will drop two weight classes this season. He will be joined at 165 by juniors Joey Desrochers (VermontvilleMaple Valley) and Greg Jarratt (Centreville) and freshmen state-placers Jim Neal (Marysville) and Justin Jaynes (Richmond).

174 pounds
     Kyle Vanderhyde’s (Sparta) only loss against a NCAA Division III wrestler a season ago came in the championship match at the national championships, as he recovered from mid-season surgery to place second in the nation. Vanderhyde will attempt to lead his teammates to national prominence this season while at the same time continuing toward his personal goal of being a national champion. The depth at 174 pounds will be very strong as senior Dayne Fletke (Middleville/Thornapple Kellogg) will be joined by state champions Darrick Parker (Bangor) and Joe McAllister (Sault St. Marie).

184 pounds
     The Comets have qualified a wrestler to the national tournament from the 184-pound weight class in each of Head Coach Todd Hibbs’ seasons with the program. This year it will be a new starter that tries to keep that string alive. Leading the pack is likely to be sophomore Joe Bargerstock (Livonia/Churchill) and junior Aaron Stewart (Dansville). State-placer Bargerstock has thus far seen limited action in his career, but is a strong and quick competitor with a serious upside, while Stewart is a former two-time letterwinner who returns from a tour in Iraq with the United States Marine Corps. Also at 184 are juniors Tom Ahlfeld (Beaverton) and Joe Troncone (Macomb/Centreline), and freshmen state-placers Mason Ley (Caro) and Rob Disbrow (Lansing/Everett) along with Aaron Sullenger (Alpena).

197 pounds
     The 197-pound weight class should be one of the deepest in talent for the Comets. A combination of veteran leadership and young talent will make the competition for mat time fierce. Sophomore Joey Yurisich (Battle Creek/Harper Creek) won 23 matches last year as a freshman, while senior Tucker Surbrook (Potterville) is also a viable starter. Still, highly talented freshman state champion Jason Weatherspoon (Jackson/Napoleon) will join the team after football season. Freshman Ryan Connors (Ann Arbor/Pioneer) is also expected to compete for mat time.

  285 pounds
     Sean Misko (Richmond) was voted the Outstanding Freshman of the Year at the 2007 Mid-States Conference Tournament, and will return to improve on his 21-win total. Also looking for mat time at heavyweight will be senior Adam Barr (Holt), juniors James Boyd (St. Charles, Ill./Stoney Creek) and James Tanis (Jenison), sophomore Andrew Middleton (Romeo) and freshman Jaime Llerena (Bangor).