"Mott Finishes A Champion"

As published in the "Warren Weekly"
By: Chris Langrill, C & G Sports Writer
February 26, 2003

Warren Mott senior Joe Dimitriou, top, gets a hold of Roseville's
Ken Charette during their 135-pound match in a
Division I team regional Feb 19 at Grosse Pointe South

There may have been no superstars on the squad, and not alot of fanfare, but Warren Mott wrestlers went out and made themselves champions just the same.

The Marauders captured a Division I team district championship, beating Fraser, 42-30, on February 13 at Richards Middle School.

The crown marked the first in the wrestling program's history.

"We came to work", said fourth-year coach Garrett Lovas. "We don't win if everyone didn't put in. We couldn't just rely on one or two guys."

Lovas, who has no feeder or junior high teams to help his program out, started with a large group of inexperienced underclassmen when the season began.

But, with the help of some of the team's more experienced grapplers, the squad worked hard and got better as the year went along.

The Marauders were a middle-of-the-pack team in the Macomb Area Conference Blue Division during the regular season. They finished the year 12-10 after a regional semifinal loss to Roseville on February 19 at Grosse Pointe South.

"We learned from our mistakes and we peaked at the right time," said Lovas. "I had a lot of freshmen and sophomores who stuck with it."

Seniors Joe Dimitriou (135 pounds), Richie Koch (152), Dave Zeleny (140), Trevor Craig (145), Ryan Stacho (160), Paul Ceravolo (215) and Angela Scheer (103) will be missed.

But the squad should return strong wrestlers in sophomore Eric Mills (125, regional qualifier), junior Justin Carleton (189) and freshman Will Kosnik (275).

"I'm trying to build something up here," Lovas said of his young team. "Hopefully, winning a district will motivate the guys for next year."