Raiders return bulk of 08-09 line-up

BY CHARLES ROTHWELL
Nov. 30, 2009, 10:05 p.m.

  Head coach Tom Seremet begins his ninth season with the Raiders. His assistant coaches will be Brian Rochon (third season) and former Farmington Hills Harrison state qualifier Chris Gadjev (first season).

  The Raiders went 14-7 last year and were city champions for the fourth consecutive season. They qualified three individuals for regionals and had one regional champion.

  North Farmington graduated only two seniors from last year's team: Jacob Blowers (160 pounds) and regional qualifier Rahmi Chaghouri (171).

  This year's team will be led by senior co-captains Matt Jaisle (state qualifier at 119 pounds), Garrett Fisk, Matt Russell, Brian Miller and Nate Cherney. Junior Jordan Russell, a regional qualifier last year at 112, will anchor the lower weights.

  Although North Farmington does not appear to have gained any stud transfers or freshmen, they have solid numbers with 32 wrestlers (eight freshmen) joining the squad.

  Below is my best guess at the Raiders' varsity line-up:

103 - Mike Hoover, sophomore;
112 - Michael Williams, sophomore;
119 - Jordan Russell, junior;
125 - Matt Jaisle, senior;
130 - Garrett Fisk, senior;
135 - Marc Chiodo, senior;
140 - John Davis, junior;
145 - Matt Russell, senior;
152 - Nate Cherney, senior;
160 - Brian Miller, senior;
171 - Courtney Drew, junior;
189 - Kevin Miller, sophomore;
215 - Majd Mokbel, sophomore; and
285 - Richard Kang, freshman.

  This team is looking pretty solid in the lower and middle weights. The upper weights are young and inexperienced. North Farmington definitely has a shot at winning its fifth consecutive city meet and becoming team district champion.