By Greg Gielczyk
ROSCOMMON – Some people consider 13 an unlucky number.
But you won’t find the Roscommon wrestling team believing in such superstitions after continuing its domination of the Jack Pine Conference on Saturday by winning its 13th league championship to head into this week’s team and individual district tournaments with a full head of steam.
Despite being under the guidance of a rookie coach making his debut this season, the Bucks never missed a beat and pushed through to make its mark indelibly etched on the conference landscape yet again.
Matt Morley graduated from Roscommon five years ago and was a member of four teams that made it to the state quarterfinals. He later joined the program as an assistant coach to share his experience and wisdom with those following in his footsteps.
The Bucks carried some heavy lumber heading into the conference championships, headed by senior Tommy Tiepel who has been on a tear this year and earned a seventh-place ranking from Michigan Grappler.
Roscommon managed to rise to the top in the Jack Pine despite working shorthanded to start out, which left Morley in the position of needing to roam the halls and recruit prospects from among those who hadn’t come out for the sport.
It’s been the four veterans Morley has on the squad who have stood out as the team leaders in every way, but most particularly on the mat where they prefer to do most of their leading. By example, rather than verbally.
But, they can articulate their feelings when the occasion calls for it.
The Bucks have pulled off some surprises this year, capped by their conference title. One of the other major standouts has been 112-pounder Brenden Spencer who has risen up the ranks and is currently third in the state at his weight class.
Roscommon had the home mat in its favor in the four-team district tournament on Wednesday. The Bucks opened the festivities with a semi-final match against Houghton Lake.
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