Lutheran Westland had a fairly successful season last year.  Although they could only fill 10 or 11 weights, they posted a 17-13 record in dual meets, won the Summit Academy Team Tournament, and were team district champions. 

  The Warriors were led by dominating seniors last year.  Laith Francis (125), Justin Palka (130), and Sean Rowe (135/140) placed at most tournaments they entered, including individual districts.  Francis and Palka were regional finalists out of a very tough region that included the top teams in Division 4, Hudson and Addison, and Francis placed third at the state meet.  Josh Andrzejewski (152), and Craig Kowalsky (189) also won most of their regular season matches.

  This season will be totally different.  Graduation has left the Warriors with only five kids with significant varsity experience.  There are no seniors on this year’s squad.  Additionally, long-time assistant coach Dan Haller is getting married and will not be coaching this year.  Former wrestlers Stephen Kemp and Steve Cieslik will stop by to help out when they can, but basically head coach Joe Schmidt will have to go it alone.

  Although Coach Schmidt does not want to call this a “rebuilding year”, he will have 9 freshmen and several sophomores and juniors joining the team who have little or no wrestling experience.  “I am really excited about this group of freshmen” stated Schmidt.  They have shown a lot of enthusiasm for the sport and in a couple years, they should be quite competitive, but “some will have a long year.”

  With 22 kids coming out for the team, this is the largest number in several years.  Weight distribution, however, is rather odd.  There are four 103-pounders, four heavyweights, and six wrestlers in the 152-171 range.  Nonetheless, Lutheran Westland should be able to bump some kids up and fill all 14 weights.  Below is an early look at the Warrior line-up:

103 – Anthony Moore (Fr)

112 – Zach Francis (Fr)

119 – Adam Seta (So)

125 – Stewart Tarp (Jr)

130 – Newman Harper (Fr)

135 – Matt DeWitt (Fr)

140 – Nolan Edwards (Jr) or Jonah Lambert (Fr)

145 – Matt Sankey (Jr) - Captain

152 – Philip Welte (Jr) – Captain or Kole Niemi (Fr)

160 – Brian Deel (Jr) - Captain

171 – Martin Kemp (So) - Captain

189 – Alex Reardon (So)

215 – Jacob Bartos (So)

285 – Brad Hura (Fr)

  The ongoing theme for Warrior wrestling is to improve every day.  Goals for this upcoming season are to be team district champions and send as many wrestlers to the Palace as possible.