Pictured is first-year Redford Union wrestling coach Rob Rankin. (photo by Charles Rothwell)

2010-11 Wrestling Preview:
Redford Union High School

    Last season was not a good one for the Panthers.  They had very low participation, with only three wrestlers below 152 pounds.  As a team Redford Union won only two duals.  Individually, ten wrestlers competed at individual district, winning only two matches – and one of those wins was against a teammate.  Marcelle Roberson has subsequently stepped down as head coach.

  The new head coach is Rob Rankin.  Rob is a graduate of Redford Thurston High School, and of Central Michigan University.  Although not an official member of the CMU wrestling team, he worked out with the Chippewa grapplers and participated in a handful of open tournaments as an unattached 177 pounder.  More recently, Rob has been coaching the Trojan Wrestling Club, helping out the middle school program, and taught the sport to several of the current Redford Union wrestlers.

  Previous assistant coach, James Remenapp, will stay on and assist Coach Rankin.  Additionally, a couple wrestling dads will help out when they can.

  The Panthers do have some returning wrestlers that showed flashes of being competitive last year.  Sophomore Collin Rankin (160) won the Salem Elks Tournament, defeating regional qualifier Josh Seibert and Salem senior captain Jimmy Gross en route.  Josh Hall (140) looked very athletic, but would tend to make technical mistakes that cost him some winnable matches.

  The most positive news for Redford Union is in the new kids coming out for the team.  Total numbers are about 25, but distribution is not even.  There are a good number of light weights and lots of kids 160 and up, but only a couple kids between 130 and 160.  Kyle Donahue, a sophomore with significant MYWAY experience, has decided to join the team.  Junior David Knox has decided to join for the first time.  David and freshman brother Stephen Knox wrestled in elementary school under the tutelage of Lutheran Westland head coach Joe Schmidt.  Stephen has significant MYWAY experience.  Another sophomore, Damien Mukulski, comes in from Lincoln Park where he gained a little experience.

  The line-up for this season is not set, but here is a guess:

103 – Tristin Styles (Fr)

112 – Kyle Donahue (So)

119 – David Knox (Jr)

125 – Stephen Knox (Fr)

130 – Bradley Tamagne (Jr)

135 – Damien Mukulski (So)

140 – Josh Hall (Sr)

145 – void?

152 – void?

160 – Roderick Howard (So) or Josh Mullen (Jr)

171 – Collin Rankin (So)

189 – Carl Keeney (So)

215 – Tyler McDonald (Jr) or Daven Gardiner (Jr)

285 – Christian Colon (Sr)

  Coach Rankin’s main objective for this year is to lay the foundation for building a competitive program.  He plans to work closely with the new coach of the middle school to help ensure a flow of freshmen with a good grasp of the basics.  He will also focus on basics in his own room, especially takedown technique, conditioning, and mental toughness. 

  As for specific team goals, he wants his team to be more competitive in all aspects and to significantly improve upon the two dual meet victories of the previous three years.  Individually, his goal is to send at least two wrestlers to the state meet in March.