Hartland Eagles to Wrestle for Team Regional Championship Tomorrow
Tournament is at 5:30 p.m. at Waterford Mott; Eagles will wrestle Farmington Hills Harrison in semis.
About a decade ago, Hartland wrestlers like Austin Eicher and Jacob Gorial were beginning their careers in the Hartland Wrestling Club. Tomorrow, they could help the Eagles win their 12th straight regional championship. Coach Todd Cheney credits his program's success to wrestlers' strong background in the Hartland Wrestling Club, which he coaches, and the middle school wrestling program.
Wednesday's regional team meet will be held at Waterford Mott at 5:30 p.m., with Hartland matching up against Farmington Hills Harrison in the semifinals. If they win that match, they will face the winner of the other semifinal match — Clarkston or Birmingham Seaholm. The winner of the two semifinals will face each other in the regional championship match on the same night.
Hartland, who is favored to win the regional, would be making their 12th straight trip to Battle Creek for the MHSAA team state wrestling meet at Kellogg Arena.
Cheney believes the youth wrestling program is the reason for his wrestlers' success, he said.
Individuals
On last Saturday, the Eagles hosted the individual districts, with 10 individuals qualifying for this Saturday's individual regionals at Davison. Seven of the 10 Hartland wrestlers won district titles on Feb. 11, Cheney said.
They are Nate Hughes (103), Jacob Gorial (112), Austin Eicher (119), Anthony Colaianne (140), Mitchel Thomas (152), Justin Charneski (171) and Brian Braun (215). In addition, Justin Rollins (125), Chad Maks (160) and Matt Ostermiller (189) took second and also qualified for individual regionals on Feb. 18.
Most of them have wrestled since they were 5 or 6 years old, Cheney said.
Any wrestler placing in the top four at regionals will qualify for the individual state wrestling meet at the Palace of Auburn Hills, March 1-3.
Danna Castillo
6:25 pm on Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The team is loaded with really great kids that just happen to be awesome wrestlers. Good Luck Eagles & Coaches!!!
Mary
8:30 am on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Congratulations! Great job! So many young wrestlers watch and cheer for you!
Shawn
12:51 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
The boys Basketball program would be well served to have a coach like Coach Cheney, That has the insight to know it starts at the youth programs.
Coach Cheney spends more time with our youth wrestling program then our Football and Basketball coaches combined.
This is why our wrestling program is a force in the state.
I hear good things about out new Football coach, I believe it's time for new start for mens Basketball.
Annie
3:16 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Couldn't agree with you more about basketball Shawn.
Jeff
9:38 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
The basketball team has a Regional championship in the past five years and contended for a KLAA championship last year. We were due for a down year. I agree about more development starting in the youth programs (besides HAYAA), and I'm not even the biggest Leppek fan. But let's be fair!!!
Shawn
11:44 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Coach Leppek has gave us some great Basketball the past years.
This is just my opinion, but I see us improving by a couple games next year, and for me with the talent (not to mention the boys he lost last year) that is just not good enough.
I would be the first to thank him for his contribution to the Hartland Basketball program
FHM
10:56 am on Monday, February 20, 2012
I would not call it "great"...the regional championship team; competitive team, loaded with talent, exciting to watch..but it took a 45 foot heave from the backup center or they would have been out in the first round. Last year, they finished 3-7 in division play and a 10-12 record overall. This, with a true DI player on the roster, which most schools in MI don't have. Yes, thank you coach for your time, your contribution and your efforts, but it's time to move on...Hartland needs to reload it's basketball program.