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New coach leads BR-H

Wrestling preview

HARRIS — A new coach and 13 wrestlers at Bark River-Harris started their season on a positive note Saturday by placing second at the Westwood Super Duals.

The Broncos were runners-up to the host Patriots in a meet which marked Joe Racicot’s coaching debut.

“This is a learning experience for me,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve coached a high school wrestling match. Things went extremely well Saturday. The kids have heart and willingness to learn to put it all on the line.”

This year’s turnout is much greater than a year ago when the Broncos finished with four.

Racicot said the opener was also a learning experience for 10 of the program’s grapplers.

“We have an extremely young and inexperienced team,” he added. “We have 10 who are first-year high school wrestlers. Among them are two juniors who had never touched a mat in their lives before this year. Although, our numbers make us much more competitive than we were last year. This definitely gives us more options. We can fill most of the weight classes.”

The Broncos, who resume in Friday’s Westwood jayvee tournament, return sophomores Kyle Adams at 130 pounds and Mason Ray (145) and Hal Burton (189).

Adams, Ray and freshman Tyler Racicot (140) captured their respective division titles at Westwood.

Additional newcomers are senior Jose Laynez (189), juniors Eric Viau (171), Devin Racicot (215) and Wyatt Massie (heavyweight), sophomore Austin Kleiman (189) and freshmen Willy Kleikamp (119) and Riggins Stenberg (160).

“It was extremely exciting going into Saturday’s meet,” said coach Racicot. “That gave us an idea where the kids were at and where we were as a coaching staff. With only one senior on the team, we now have an opportunity to grow as a team. I think Friday’s meet gives us a great opportunity to compete as a team.”

Sharing the coaching duties with Racicot are his assistants Jake Cronick, Kevin Mileski and Curtis and Tyler Labadie.

“For me it’s a family thing,” said coach Racicot. “Both of my sons are wrestling. My daughter Melody is the team manager and my wife Amber is our statistician.”

BR-H will make its lone home appearance Jan. 16 when its hosts Munising and Menominee on Veteran’s Night.

The remaining schedule:

Dec. 15 –Jayvees at Westwood; Dec. 29 — Munising Holiday Super Duals

Jan. 6 — Escanaba Elks Invitational; Jan. 10 — at Munising; Jan. 13 — at Kingsford (Mariucci Invitational; Jan. 16 — Munising and Menominee; Jan. 20 — U.P. Championships at Marquette; Jan. 25 — at Gladstone; Jan. 27 — Manistique Super Duals; Jan. 31 — at Munising.

Feb. 8 — Division 4 team district at Manistique; Feb. 10 — D-4 individual district at Munising; Feb. 14 — D-4 team regional at TBA; Feb. 17 — D-4 individual regional at Charlevoix.

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