Fitzgerald wrestling building, winning with youth

By Brad D. Bates
C & G Sports Writer

WARREN — While the Warren Fitzgerald wrestling team has yet reach its true potential, that doesn’t mean the Spartans haven’t had success.

Fitzgerald took home the 2009 Warren City Meet title Dec. 22 at home, won the Pioneer Invitation Dec. 5 at Croswell-Lexington and took second at the Spartan Classic Jan. 9 at home.

That success has jumpstarted the Spartans’ season despite a young roster that has been hampered by injuries.

“That was really important,” Fitzgerald junior 119-pounder Scott Stawinski said of the early season success. “Right now, it would be tough if we hadn’t won.

“It would be tough getting people going, but because we got those trophies, it got the ball rolling, and now one trophy is not enough.”

The early success was especially pivotal as the Spartans attempt to shuffle an injury-depleted lineup and replace the leadership that graduated with All-State honorees C. J. Carroll (215) and Justin Walters (heavyweight).

“We really haven’t wrestled with our full lineup yet,” coach Marc Sonnenfeld said. “It’s good because a lot of young wrestlers are getting experience they normally wouldn’t, but it’s bad because we don’t know what we’ll have yet.”

One thing Sonnenfeld does know is he has a strong anchor for his lineup from 135 pounds to 145.

Sophomore Clint Doty took seventh at the Macomb County Championships Dec. 19 at Grosse Pointe North after qualifying for the individual regional finals as a freshman.

Senior Steve Orlowski placed fifth at 140 pounds at the county meet, and senior 145-pounder Mike Doty placed eighth wrestling up at 152 at the county meet.

“Those kids have been working hard for years,” Sonnenfeld said of his top grapplers. “They’re still learning to be leaders, though. (Walters and Carroll) were leaders in other sports.

“Last year, they were captains on the football team too, and they brought that to our team. This year’s captains are primarily wrestlers, so they’re still adjusting.”

Along with Orlowski and Mike Doty, the Spartans have senior captain and 160-pounder Nick Pelc to lead the way, as well as senior 171-pounder Bradley Lopez, who placed seventh in the county.

That type of talent has Sonnenfeld optimistic about what his 2009-10 team can accomplish, so much so that he thinks the team could make its first trip back to the team state finals since 2003-04.

“It’s going to be real interesting at districts,” Sonnenfeld said. “Hazel Park is tough, so it’s going to be one of us getting out of there.

“After that, who knows? Warren Woods Tower and Madison Heights Lamphere are both very good, too. It could be a real interesting — district and regional. We could be competing for district and regional titles.”

You can reach Sports Writer Brad D. Bates at bbates@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1029.