Clinton picks up former Tecumseh wrestling coach

By MICKEY ALVARADO

Former Tecumseh High School varsity wrestling coach Tim Connors will be working side by side with Clinton’s varsity wrestling coach this season as the assistant for the Redskins’ squad.

Connors said that he wasn’t ready to retire as a coach just yet and was happy to lend a hand to Clinton coach Kevin Beazley. His son Kevin Connors has also joined the squad as a volunteer assistant. Clinton’s assistants from last season, Jim Fulger and Chad Roush, left to finish schooling at college, according to Beazley.

“Tim Connors and his son Kevin decided to come on board here at Clinton, and I’m excited about that,” said Beazley. “They bring a wealth of knowledge. Tim, of course, has a lot of experience coaching.”

Beazley was pleased that his new assistant’s vast knowledge of the sport will allow him to get more hands on with his wrestlers.

“I can actually wrestle and get in with the guys when he’s running practice and vice versa,” said Beazley. “It makes me a little bit more versatile.”

Coach Connors still has his son, Kyle, wrestling for Tecumseh as a senior but it is doubtful they will face each other from across the mats. Beazley said the Redskins only see the Indians once during the season.

“We probably won’t even see them until the county meet,” said Beazley. “We’re not going to Tecumseh this year. The latest date backed us up a week. We always go to Fenton that weekend. Casey had to move his tournament back a week too, so we’re going to be at Fenton.”

The only home dual meet the Redskins have scheduled this season is on Saturday, Dec. 2, against Ida and Blissfield. The only other time Clinton is at home is during the Redskins’ annual Dave Elliott Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 9.

“The way we changed that is we have Milan coming in, and Saline and Manchester,” said Beazley on the Elliott Tournament. “We changed that from Quincy and Homer. We toughened that up to bring in Milan and Saline.”

Clinton also heads to Dansville and Allen Park this year but is unable to participate in the Lakeview tournament as usual. Also new on the schedule is Hudson’s Super 16 Tournament.

“We toughened it up a little bit more than usual,” said Beazley. “We’re always doing something to change it up.”

The Redskins have 27 members on the team with four of six state qualifiers returning from last year. There are also two former state qualifiers returning who didn’t advance last season. Jesse Sexton returns for his final season after placing second at state. Beazley hopes Sexton is able to overcome an injury sustained during the football season and is able to return to the state meet at 152- or 160-pounds.

The Redskins had 14 regional qualifiers last year.

“It’s the first year we’re going to fill all the weight classes,” said Beazley. “We won’t have any voids unless some catastrophic thing happens. We haven’t had that in a while.”
Clinton recorded the most wins ever in the program the last two seasons. Last year, the Redskins finished 41-7 overall.

“We had good numbers last year,” said Beazley, “We have great numbers this year, which is going to help us.”