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Expectations High for Battle-Tested Gaylord
January 5, 2018
By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half
GAYLORD – During the winter of 2001, Davison’s Chase Metcalf was in the process of winning a second consecutive MHSAA individual wrestling title.
Jerry LaJoie, the wrestling coach at Gaylord, was quite familiar with Metcalf and his younger brother, Brent, who would finish 228-0 as a prep and win two NCAA championships.
“I knew the family,” said LaJoie, whose nephew Tony was a two-time MHSAA Finals champion at Clarkston during those days. “The Metcalfs are a staple in Michigan wrestling. I got to watch the Metcalfs grow up in front of me. They were little kids coming on to the wrestling scene when I was a young coach.”
So when the LaJoies welcomed a baby boy on Christmas Day in 2001, they named him Chayse after Chase Metcalf.
“We wanted to make it our own (first name) so we added a ‘y’ to it,” said LaJoie.
Chase Metcalf went on to wrestle at the University of Michigan, then tragically died in an auto accident in 2005 at the age of 21.
As for Chayse LaJoie, he’s making his own mark on the mat. As a freshman last season, LaJoie captured the Division 2 individual title at 103 pounds. That same day, his brother, Dominic, claimed 125 pounds. Only a one-point loss at the 2016 Finals prevented Dominic from becoming a four-time state champ, matching Brent Metcalf’s feat.
It was a proud day for Jerry LaJoie, who has built the Gaylord wrestling program into one of the state’s best, as he watched his sons realize dreams on the same day.
“As a coach, it was awesome,” said LaJoie. “As a dad, it was very special. They were drill partners. All the hard work paid off.”
Athletic director Christian Wilson savored it, too.
“It was a special deal because not only are they outstanding wrestlers, but they’re great kids,” he said. “Anytime you have kids come through your school, and they’re able to see their goals achieved, it’s pretty neat. Not just for our wrestling program and school, but for our community.”
Dominic is now wrestling at Cornell University. Still, the Blue Devils return the nucleus of a team that lost a two-point match to St. Johns in the team Regional Finals a year ago, this after two consecutive MHSAA Semifinal berths. Four Individual Finals placers are back.
“We have high expectations because we have a veteran squad,” said senior captain Joe Markham, who took sixth at 285 last year. “We expect great things out of each other. We want to get back in the running for states.”
Gaylord, ranked No. 3 in Division 2 by Michigan Grappler, opened this campaign with tournament wins at Marquette and Greenville. The Blue Devils placed third at the Goodrich Tournament of Champions over Christmas break with 10 wrestlers.
Gaylord is especially strong in the lower weights with Chayse LaJoie, senior captain Derek Giallombardo and sophomore John Henry Sosa. The three are rotating, depending on style matchups, in the 119, 125 and 130 weight classes. Giallombardo finished fourth at 119 a year ago, while Sosa placed fifth at 112.
“We’re flexible,” said Jerry LaJoie. “We can move our lineup around, and our kids are still capable of performing at high levels.”
The lineup also features Will Sides at 112, Rico Brown at 130-135, Dmitri Smith, Cody Starks and Seth Gregory at 140-145; Jacob McKnight at 145, Kenny Smith at 152, Brady Schulz at 160-171, Cade Foster at 171-189, A.J. Krumholz at 215 and Markham at 285. Foster and Markham won the 171 and 285 weight classes at Goodrich. Giallombardo placed second to Utica Ford’s Terrin Machart at 125, while Chayse LaJoie was third at 119.
“It’s tough to find a couple holes in our lineup that we can’t protect or move around, and that’s what makes us tough,” said LaJoie, who entered the season with a 632-131-2 career record.
Over the holidays, five former Blue Devils returned home to work with the team, including three who are wrestling in college (Dominic LaJoie, Jon Martin at Central Michigan University and Trevor Giallombardo at Ohio University).
“We use the Christmas break to correct some of our mistakes and work on the finer things,” said LaJoie. “Plus, the college kids come in and show their techniques.”
Chayse LaJoie and Derek Giallombardo are training partners this season. Previously, they worked with their brothers.
“Coach likes to say, ’iron sharpens iron,’” Giallombardo said.
Chayse LaJoie appreciates facing good competition in practice. After all, working with his brother in the past helped him develop his work ethic and focus.
“You don’t have to push Chayse to work hard,” his father said. “He‘s a goer. He’ll battle with anybody. Dom was more technical. Chayse is more physical.”
LaJoie said his captains, Giallombardo and Markham, lead by example. Both are capable of winning Finals titles this winter, he said.
When asked what his most memorable moment has been on the mat, Giallombardo said that chapter has yet to be written.
“I’m hoping to make that moment happen at the state meet this year,” he said.
Markham, meanwhile, is motivated by how he finished 2017. He injured his ankle at the Individual Finals and had to default his last match.
“I felt kind of empty afterwards,” he said.” I’m using that to drive me.”
Markham likes the makeup of this team.
“I like our work ethic,” he said. “You’re not born with that skill, you have to work at it – and we have it.”
Still, he added, the Blue Devils must avoid complacency.
“Just because we have state medalists doesn’t mean anything coming into this season,” he said. “We have to keep working, keep building off what we have.
“And we have to stay mentally tough. It’s a long season, and we’re going to have to stay mentally strong if we want to finish the way we expect.”
The Blue Devils will be put to the test Saturday in a highly competitive six-team tournament at Grand Ledge.
“We’ll see some tough teams,” said Giallombardo, who has signed with Ohio University. “We need to do well for seeding.”
Chayse LaJoie can’t wait for the challenge.
“It excites me,” he said. “I love competition.”
After Grand Ledge, Gaylord will begin pursuing another Big North Conference crown. The Blue Devils have won 10 consecutive league titles.
“Both Traverse City teams are getting better, and Petoskey is always tough,” said Jerry LaJoie. “We’ll have to be on our game.”
But the Blue Devils have goals beyond that.
“If we stay healthy, I think we can get back to states,” said Chayse LaJoie. “But that’s if everybody stays healthy and dedicated.”
Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Joe Markham’s arm is raised in victory during a triangular meet Dec. 21 against Ogemaw Heights and Sault Ste. Marie. (Middle) Derek Giallombardo, (top) and Chayse LaJoie are another pair of standouts for this season’s Blue Devils. (Below) Gaylord coach Jerry LaJoie, and graduated son Dominic (kneeling) watch one of their wrestlers compete during the tri-meet. (Photos courtesy of the Gaylord Herald Times.)
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Comar Sets Goals for Self, Clinton
December 7, 2017
By Doug Donnelly
Special for Second Half
CLINTON – Clinton High School has had a remarkable run of Division I college athletes over the past six years. In fact, eight have come through the halls of the northern Lenawee County school that boasts an enrollment of only 310 high school students total.
Noah Comar could become the next from the Class C school. But, he’s not worried about that just yet.
That’s because Comar, Clinton’s returning MHSAA Finals champion wrestler, has a couple more chances to bring home team and individual titles at the high school level.
“That’s what my focus is now,” Comar said. “I’d definitely like to wrestle in college. I’ve thought about it.
“It’s great for what all those guys have done. It’s inspiring, but I don’t think about that. I’m just focused on this season.”
Comar, 17, went 53-0 as a sophomore in winning the 112-pound weight division in Division 4 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. He enters the 2017-18 campaign with a career record of 108-4.
“I don’t focus on records,” he said. “I just focus on beating whoever steps on to the mat against me.”
Clinton has turned itself into a wrestling powerhouse over the past several years. Despite being in the same county as perennial Division 4 championship contender Hudson, the Redskins have made great strides with their program under head coach Jeff Rolland, who said this year’s goal isn’t just to get into the Quarterfinals on Feb. 23, but to “be wrestling on Saturday.”
If that happens, Comar will be a big reason why – in more ways than one.
“He is really good, and he’s still improving,” Rolland said. “One thing we asked more from him this year is to be a leader. He’s bringing kids with him as he improves, and that’s important.”
Comar agreed that throughout the preseason, he became more vocal despite his tendency to be quiet. When he became the fastest Clinton wrestler to 100 career wins last year, he was typically low-key about the honor, although he did pose for a photo with his parents and a large card that the Clinton staff made up with “100” on it.
“I’m speaking up more in practice,” he said. “It’s kind of new to me to do that, but I like it. I find that people are looking up to me more now.”
As a freshman, Comar finished second in Division 4 at 112 pounds, losing to Hudson’s Jordan Hamdan in the Finals by a 5-1 score. It was Hamdan’s third win over Comar that season. The two did not meet in 2017.
“He wrestled at 130, plus we weren’t at the same tournaments,” Comar said.
In 2017, Comar beat Hamden’s teammate, Tucker Sholl, to claim the title. The championship was a thriller as both scored an escape during regulation but Comar was able to get a takedown and win the match in overtime, 3-1. He wrestled at 112 last season as well but expects to spend most of this season at 125 before dropping down to 119 for the MHSAA tournament. He’s about 127 pounds now.
“It’s better for the team if I wrestle at 125,” he said. “We have some other 119-pounders. This will help the team.”
Comar has also set a goal of not giving up a point in the state tournament.
“It didn’t hit me until a few days after the state tournament that I had actually won the state championship,” he said. “It was like a dream; all of the hard work paid off. I was pretty confident in myself. The coaches are great. They gave me a lot of confidence in myself.”
Comar got his start in wrestling with the Adrian youth wrestling club. He later was involved in the Tecumseh wrestling program before deciding to go to Clinton. His father Cory and mother Monica were also big influences on him wrestling, and he had a brother who was an MHSAA Finals qualifier at Tecumseh.
Comar also plays football at Clinton and helped the Redskins to the playoffs this fall. He rushed for 336 yards and caught nine passes for 106 more yards. He also made 35 tackles.
Clinton has an experienced wrestling coaching staff. Rolland wrestled at Kent State University. Casey Randolph wrestled at Eastern Michigan University, as did new assistant coach Ben Griffen. Louis Posa, who was the most recent MHSAA champ from Clinton before Comar (in 2005), wrestled at Trine University. Assistant coach Al Regnier hails from the wrestling-rich Temperance Bedford program.
“I’ve learned a lot of stuff from them and not just about wrestling or technique,” Comar said. “They teach us all life lessons, too. It’s a good coaching staff.”
As for this season, the Redskins will have more than 30 athletes on the varsity roster – including a host of talented freshmen. Once Rolland is done tinkering with the lineup, he expects them to have a strong season.
“We are working on improving technique and getting the young kids up to speed,” Rolland said. “Our expectation level is very high for this season.”
As for Comar, he’s shooting for another undefeated season and a second MHSAA championship. He’s prepared hard in the offseason, he said.
“I feel like going into the season there is no rust,” he said. “I’m fully prepared and raring to go. I’m still improving. There’s always room to improve. I want to be better by the end of the year.”
Doug Donnelly has served as a sports and news reporter and city editor over 25 years, writing for the Daily Chief-Union in Upper Sandusky, Ohio from 1992-1995, the Monroe Evening News from 1995-2012 and the Adrian Daily Telegram since 2013. He's also written a book on high school basketball in Monroe County and compiles record books for various schools in southeast Michigan. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Clinton's Noah Comar works against his opponent during last season's Quarterfinal match at Central Michigan University. (Middle) Comar stands among teammates prior to taking on Leroy Pine River. (Click for more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)